By Les Ong on February 2, 2026
When Oceana Berry introduces herself to new clients, she doesn’t just shake their hand. She looks them in the eye, makes a genuine connection, and shows them that fitness doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s this approach, combined with her infectious energy and deep understanding of the challenges older adults face, that has made her personal training business, ORB Fitness and Adventure, a vital part of the Beaverton community.
“I’m a special ball of sunshine that helps motivate and inspire people beyond what they think they can do,” Oceana says with a smile. It’s not just marketing speak. Her clients, ranging from age 55 to an impressive 99 years old, will tell you the same thing.
Oceana’s path to becoming a personal trainer and health coach wasn’t traditional, but it gave her unique insights that inform everything she does today. At 19, she experienced a stroke that left her without the use of the left side of her body. That experience of recovery, of fighting to regain mobility and strength, planted seeds that would bloom decades later.
“All of our life is a stepping stone of all the things accumulated that we’ve done,” Oceana reflects. After earning her undergraduate degree in advertising management from San Jose State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, she built a career in that field. But when her son was born in her mid-thirties, she knew she wanted a change.
“I didn’t want to leave my son with somebody to do something I hated,” she explains. So she retrained as a personal trainer, finding that her personal history and her passion for helping others created a perfect fit. Her experience recovering from a stroke gives her clients hope. They can see, in her, what’s possible.
What sets Oceana apart from other trainers is her fundamental philosophy: meet everybody where they are today. No judgment, no unrealistic expectations, just genuine support for each person’s current abilities and goals.
“I let people grow within where they are right now, rather than putting expectations on where somebody should be at a certain age or a certain time of day,” she says. This approach creates a safe, inclusive environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their capabilities.
Her comprehensive personal training and health coaching services are specifically designed for older adults who need specialized attention. Whether someone is highly ambulatory or uses a chair for support, Oceana adapts every exercise to meet their needs while maintaining safety as the top priority.
“When we exercise, the first thing is safety. The second thing is fun,” she emphasizes. And fun is not optional in Oceana’s classes. It’s essential.
Community lies at the heart of what Oceana does. She recognizes that the population she works with often becomes isolated as they age, when their social circles naturally shrink. By creating group classes in retirement communities throughout Washington County, she’s building pods of connection and support.
“They look out for each other and make sure that each other is coming,” Oceana says of her group class participants. “They inspire each other. They encourage each other.”
One of her most memorable moments came at a community where she’s been teaching since there were only two residents. Agnes, 97, and another resident, 84, were her first students. One year later, that same community has grown from 2 to 14 chairs every session.
“The room is completely full of people who don’t like to exercise, yet they come because it makes them feel better,” Oceana says, her voice filled with emotion at the memory. “They have a little pink in their cheeks and they feel happier. Filling the room full of people who don’t like to exercise because it makes them feel better, I think that’s a good group moment.”
For Oceana, a successful session isn’t measured in pounds lifted or miles run. Success looks like transformation, even in small moments.
She describes one client, an 84-year-old woman who often arrives feeling stiff and unmotivated. They take a walk around the building to warm up, then move into strength work, stretching, and coordination exercises. Throughout the 50-minute session, the client’s mood shifts. Her circulation improves, color returns to her face, and by the end, she leaves feeling better than when she arrived.
“Where somebody came in one way and they leave in a better way, that’s successful to me,” Oceana explains. “My ball of sunshine is really being able to take somebody’s not so great mood and not feeling so fantastic to recognizing what the 50 minutes created and they feel better when they leave.”
The physical transformations are remarkable too. Clients who couldn’t move their shoulders overhead when they started can now do so freely. Those who lacked the strength to stand up from a chair unassisted now do it with confidence. These victories, combined with the education Oceana provides about why each movement matters, give her clients both the tools and the confidence to maintain or even regain their abilities.
Oceana doesn’t work alone. Her goldendoodle, PepperPotts, is a constant companion and emotional support animal who joins classes and client visits. PepperPotts has a special talent for knowing exactly who needs a little extra love.
“She’s super intuitive,” Oceana says. “She’ll go sit and lean back on somebody’s foot that actually really needs a hug right now, but doesn’t know it until the dog is sitting on the foot.”
When Oceana visits memory care facilities, PepperPotts provides an extra boost of joy to residents who light up at her presence. It’s another example of how Oceana thinks holistically about her clients’ wellbeing, not just their physical fitness.
Outside of work, Oceana practices what she preaches. With her husband and two children, she explores the Pacific Northwest through hiking, camping, and chasing waterfalls. The adventure component of her business name isn’t just branding. It reflects her belief that people should continue seeking adventure at every age.
“Sometimes people get older and they decide that they’re older and they can’t, or because somebody said they couldn’t,” she observes. “It’s about helping people still seek adventure at all ages of their life.”
Since founding ORB Fitness and Adventure in 2023, Oceana has steadily grown her practice throughout Washington County, serving clients within a 10-mile radius of her Beaverton home. The name itself holds special meaning. ORB represents her initials (Oceana R. Berry) while also evoking the image of a complete circle, something whole and all-encompassing.
“I wanted to do that partly for growth, so maybe I can grow my business and have people not working for Oceana’s Fitness, that it’s bigger than myself,” she explains.
She’s actively involved in the local Chamber of Commerce and creates partnerships with other community organizations. Oceana has also partnered with ElderFit, an innovative start-up out of Austin, Texas, that’s building a nationwide network to help adult children stay involved in their parents’ fitness, strength, and mobility routines. Through this partnership, families can stay connected to their loved ones’ wellness journey, even from a distance. This February, she’s hosting a community walk in partnership with Camp Bow Wow Hillsboro, bringing together puppy school graduates and community members for nature bathing and connection. She’s also planning a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate her growing presence in the community.
Looking ahead, Oceana envisions a full schedule of personal training clients and eventually bringing on other trainers who share her philosophy and approach. The need for specialized fitness services for older adults is significant, and she’s committed to making it accessible and normalized.
What makes Oceana’s work so impactful isn’t just her knowledge of exercise science or her certifications. It’s her genuine care for each person she works with, her ability to see their potential, and her refusal to accept limitations as permanent.
Whether someone is referred by a family member or finds her through community connections, Oceana makes it clear that she’s their advocate. She’s there for them, not just as a trainer, but as a partner in maintaining their independence, confidence, and quality of life.
“I really feel like I’m an advocate for my clients once they become part of my adventure team,” she says. “They trust me to be there for that.”
In a world that often overlooks the fitness needs of older adults or approaches them with condescension, Oceana Berry offers something different: respect, expertise, joy, and genuine partnership. She’s proving that with the right support, people can continue growing stronger, more confident, and more adventurous at any age.
If you or a loved one could benefit from personalized fitness training designed specifically for older adults, Oceana Berry and ORB Fitness and Adventure are here to help. Experience the difference that meeting you where you are, with safety, fun, and expert guidance, can make in your life.
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Schedule your first session today and discover how fitness can be fun, safe, and transformative at any age.
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