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All the years of training with free weights, kettlebells, and martial arts has led me to this…

I found “Cindy.” She isn’t a person. She’s a CrossFit benchmark workout.

Surely, a 20 minute workout is no big deal, right? Especially one that includes JUST pullups, JUST pushups, and JUST bodyweight squats.

Well, live and learn…

I learned I can struggle and after lying on the floor for a while, I decided I needed to embrace this struggle and improve. This was after I decided I wasn’t going to pass out, by the way.

Growth is important in all things and that’s what I’m here for: to make each and every person better when they leave than when they got here. I have been teaching and coaching for over 23 years and I’m ready to help.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s of Science in Education.  Concentration: Exercise Science
• Functional Movement Specialist (FMS Level 2)
• USAW Level 2 Sports Performance Coach & Club Coach
• CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
• CrossFit Gymnastics
• NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
• TaeKwonDo Instructor
• Formerly HKC Certified (Hardstyle Kettlebell)

My friend would not stop asking me to come to this new gym she found…

In 2009 I was stationed at Elgin AFB in Florida.  I used to do early morning runs before work (typically anywhere between 3 to 7 miles).  It was my go-to workout plan though occasionally I would throw in some push-ups and sit-ups.

I felt like this was fine and what I would soon find out was I was missing a whole world of things I never knew I would love so much

After about a month of my friend asking me to come with her to a new gym she found [called CrossFit], and me telling her I would go and then not show up, I finally walked into the doors.  My first trial workout, at CrossFit Fort Walton Beach, was a 4 movement Tabata-style workout:  pull-ups, squats, pushups, and situps.  “Ok,” I thought, “16 minutes isn’t a bit deal.  I can run for well over an hour and feel fine.”

Well, I was smacked with a big dose of CrossFit reality.

I wasn’t as good as I thought, the workout was hard, I had to scale, and I was in a  puddle of sweat on the floor wondering what just happened to me.  The weird thing was, I loved it!  The next thing I knew, I was setting up my membership and scheduling On-Ramp classes for the next day.  Needless to say, my long morning runs took a big back seat to barbells, weights, chalk, and a family I didn’t know I needed so much.

Why is it so important to me?

There are probably a hundred good reasons why CrossFit is important to me so I will just stick with the top 3:

1. Confidence
   • By far, the very first thing I noticed about myself going through CrossFit, was this.  “If I could do everything IN the gym, why can’t I do those other things OUTSIDE the gym?”  Turns out I can.  I continue to use this as motivation when something is a little scary for me.
2. Nutrition
   • I did my first nutrition challenge in 2011.  It was a paleo challenge and it was hard.  What kept me going was the changes my body was making.  It was a huge eye-opening experience for me.
3. Helping Others
   • Everything CrossFit has done for me I want to give to others, no matter what the goal is (seeing someone get their first pull-up, a PR on a lift, or helping them with nutrition.  Nothing replaces the feeling of seeing happiness on someone’s  face because they did something they couldn’t do before!

Qualifications:

• Precision Nutrition Level 1
• Two-Brain Coaching First Degree
• NASM Personal Trainer
• NASM Group Trainer
• NASM Sports Nutrition Specialist
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Weightlifting

Future Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science (2021)
• CrossFit Gymnastics

I was interning for my high school athletic trainer when I was a junior and this is where I was introduced to CrossFit.

My athletic trainers owned CrossFit Sacramento and that was my first box where I learned everything from the basics to the pains and frustrations of a beginner.  I was there for a couple of years before enlisting in the Navy.  For a year, and some change, I was stationed in San Diego where I was at CrossFit Invictus.  Being permanently stationed in Japan gave me some opportunity to practice but not belong to a box.  I had a few changes to come back to CrossFit Invictus as I furthered training in San Diego once a year.

After finishing my tour in February of 2017, I moved out to Omaha to finish my schooling and join the best box and family in Omaha:  Iron Hero CrossFit

I aspire to help other individuals, from athletes to retirees, reach their fitness goals.It is also my hope to foster a training environment people can come to participate in the family and community of CrossFit.  I believe my world experience in serving in the military and traveling abroad has given me the necessary perspective to help all people from different walks of life.

I will push myself to be the best coach I can be and I will push you to be the best version of you that you deserve.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s in Exercise Science (Coming in 2020)
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

FUTURE CERTIFICATIONS:

• Masters/Certified in Athletic Training
• NSCA Strength & Conditioning Coach
• Other various CrossFit certifications

The road to finding CrossFit was a long and interesting journey!

I came from a long distance running, yoga, and physical therapy background.  After completing several ultra-marathons in 12 months, my body needed something different.  I had tried  CrossFit class here and there, but was honestly intimidated.  Being tired of long endurance and low intensity, I decided to change it up with short endurance and high intensity.

CrossFit did the trick and I began my journey the summer of 2016.  Being in ministry school in norther California, I was able to slowly grow in the area of CrossFit and the workouts and community hooked me.  I also taught Yoga for CrossFitters classes while in California at Jefferson State CrossFit.

After completing my ministry schooling, I decided that I wanted to coach others in CrossFit as it had positively impacted my life.  I wanted to do that for others.

CrossFit has made me strong both mentally and physically.  The summer of 2018, I completed the Level 1 CrossFit course in Omaha, NE and began and internship at Iron Hero CrossFit.  I then started coaching and personal training after its’ completion.

I have a strong desire to see others succeed and develop them into the best versions of themselves.  CrossFit is accessible to everyone and I love bringing my physical therapy/Yoga background into classes.  Positivity is one of my strengths and you will be sure to find it in my classes!

Come check out what a positive and encouraging CrossFit family can look like!

Qualifications:

• Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, NE
• Certified Yoga Instructor, 200 Hour
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Weightlifting