Our Staff
Shiloe Allison Aurand
Director / Co-FounderShiloe began her CrossFit career the moment she walked into her first CrossFit gym. Not because the gym itself was special, but the capacity that CrossFit had to cultivate and foster community, which is the foundation of Recovery. Just a few short months after practicing CrossFit, Shiloe received her CrossFit L1.
During an internship and employment with CrossFit X-Factor, X-Factor was approached by Alano Club of Portland with an opportunity to partner on what is now The Recovery Gym. Having remembered a conversation with Shiloe about her desire to work with the Recovery community via health and fitness, X-Factor thought Shiloe would be a great fit for this opportunity. It was a perfect fit.
The overwhelming response the recovery community had for Recovery centric CrossFit classes made it very clear that the partnership between Shiloe and the Alano Club needed to grow and develop. Given the autonomy to build out the program from the ground floor up, it’s become Shiloe’s main focus and passion. She believes and understands at her core that the inherent fellowship and community that comes with CrossFit is what makes it so powerful as a recovery pathway. What started as a modest 3 class a week program is now a fully staffed 6,600 sq ft gym in SE Portland.
Shiloe grew up in a family where addiction was a common theme. She identifies as a person in long term recovery, primarily from an eating disorder co-occurring with substance use. Shiloe engaged in therapy and groups as part of recovery, but it was always a physical discipline that provided the most healing for her.
Shiloe is a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer. She will be going for CrossFit Level 3. She’s passionate about preserving the integrity of coaching through coaching and professional development of staff. She runs a tight ship, but in a way that is fun and inspiring for all.
Danielle Norwood
Head CoachDanielle moved to Portland a year after she graduated college back in 2009 from a small town called Oakdale, California. Not knowing a single person and searching for a career, walking into her first Crossfit gym would change her life forever. Danielle was a track and field athlete at the University of California, Irvine. Sports and fitness had given her discipline and meaning from a very young age where she also competed in gymnastics and volleyball. With a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology, Danielle did not expect to fall into the fitness industry. She found herself missing the mental and physical challenges of college athletics and most importantly the community around sports.
Danielle became a trainer (Crossfit L2) and has been coaching around Portland for almost eight years. At the same time she had been studying and pursuing Crossfit, personally her family was being ravaged by addiction and unhealthy codependent and enabling coping behaviors. Often feeling helpless with her own family situation, in 2018 she started volunteering with Portland’s Union Gospel Mission.
With a heart to step towards people of all types of recovery, Danielle is excited to use her experience with Crossfit fundamentals and community to coach and cultivate TRG alongside the rest of the team. When she’s not in the gym walking on her hands, you can find her chasing the wind with her kiteboard or hiking her Bernese Mountain Dog, Bernie.
Dion Denny
CrossFit L1 Coach, Peer MentorDion is a member of the Confederated Tribes of The Umatilla Indian Reservation. He has been living in the Portland area for 3 years, he moved here for treatment. His recovery date is 10/09/2019, he first found CrossFit on 02/10/2020 he was 4 months clean at the time. Dion's daughter Rory was only 2 months old. She was the main reason he stepped foot into the gym and continues to drive his purpose each day.
Dion knows how impactful CrossFit can be to someone's life and he is super passionate when it comes to helping others find strength for their recovery inside of the gym. Eventually he plans on opening a gym on the reservation where he grew up to help indigenous people take their health back while using CrossFit as the vehicle.
He currently has his L1, CRM, & Burgener level one. Dion has big goals of earning an L3 along with all the CEU's that come with that. Outside of the gym Dion really enjoys spending time with his daughter Rory. He loves hunting, fishing, and wood cutting. Dion loves to work hard and eat good. He hopes to see you in the gym soon LFG!
“I feel such gratitude for life. Finding a physical discipline in my recovery has allowed for the mental, spiritual, emotional parts of me to come alive as never before!”