Bennie and I first crossed paths at a gym in Baltimore where I was lifting. He noticed me working through snatches and cleans and, with a spark in his eye, told me he wanted to learn how to do that—specifically, the elusive overhead squat.

At the time, Bennie was 67 and not new to the gym. A personal trainer and former bodybuilder, he had spent decades building muscle and discipline. But years of training in one style had left him with limited mobility in his shoulders and hips. Still, he was ready for a new challenge.

After talking with another trainer, Bennie learned that to truly master the Olympic lifts, he needed to find a USA Weightlifting certified coach. I happened to be just that, with years of CrossFit coaching experience as well. We decided to start this journey together in the spring of 2024.

Our first focus: the snatch and the overhead squat. For many, the overhead squat is humbling. For Bennie, it was a mountain. We began with seated overhead squats on a 24” box to help him feel the movement safely. As he grew more comfortable, we gradually lowered the height—moving from plates to a bench—until eventually, there was nothing left beneath him. One day, about two months in, Bennie stood up with the bar locked out overhead—no assistance, no support, just a deep, stable overhead squat. He was ecstatic. So was I.

In the three months prior to this writing, Bennie has also put on five pounds of muscle, further proof that consistent, intentional training can build strength and capacity at any age.

What’s even more inspiring is that Bennie has taken the overhead squat progression we worked through together and is now using it to help his own older clients improve their strength and mobility. The progress he’s made is equipping him to help others move better and grow stronger, too.

Bennie’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to learn something new, challenge yourself, and build strength that goes beyond the mirror. If you’re ready to move with intention, lift with confidence, and discover what your body is capable of—no matter your age—I’d love to help you start your story today.

Megan and I first met about ten years ago at CrossFit, but it wasn’t until recently that she reached back out—through my wife—to see if I was still coaching. She was stuck. Her workouts were leaving her wrecked for two weeks at a time, and she was dealing with a laundry list of health challenges: PCOS, Hashimoto’s, IBS, constant bloating, fatigue, poor sleep, joint pain, and stubborn weight gain despite training and nutrition efforts. She felt like her body was working against her at every turn.

We started with the basics. I encouraged her to speak with her doctor about adding creatine to support her recovery, and it made a huge difference—cutting her recovery time from two weeks to a single day.

I met Yelena through her son, a young man I was mentoring in powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and life. One day, he told me, “My mom wants to train with you.” She had just given birth to her fifth son and was ready for change.

When I went to meet her, I didn’t even get a chance to ask why she wanted to train. She looked me straight in the eye and said,

“My doctor said I’m fat and need to lose weight. I want to work out three days a week for 45 minutes.”

So, we started. It was August 2024.

That first session was rough. Physically, it was a shock to her system. Emotionally, it stirred things she had been carrying for a long time. She struggled, and honestly, I didn’t know if she would come back.

But she did. Sore and a little nervous, she came back.

She shared with me that our first workout left her feeling emotional and overwhelmed. I let her know something I often tell my clients: when you push beyond what you believe you can handle, it can release years of built-up stress and emotion. It’s not something to be ashamed of— it’s part of the process. This is your time, and my gym is a judgment-free space. If you need to cry, scream, or let out a few choice words to keep going, that’s okay. It means you’re moving forward.

When Christine first reached out, she had a clear goal: prepare for a multi-day backpacking trip to conquer Half Dome in Yosemite. She was already in decent shape, with a strong lower body, but was understandably concerned about how her shoulders and back would handle carrying a 35-pound pack up and down rugged terrain.

We started with a month of careful movement assessment, dialing in small adjustments to her gait and hip mechanics with resistance band work. Christine moved well, and these refinements laid a strong foundation for what was ahead. We also focused on building small muscle stability in her shoulders—front and lateral raises, rotator cuff work, and internal and external rotations—to prepare her for the demands of long days under load.

Next, we worked on knee stability using single-leg extensions, TRX single-leg squats, and Bulgarian split squats, ensuring her joints would stay strong, especially during steep descents.

As Christine gained confidence, we transitioned to powerlifting and kettlebell training to enhance her strength, mobility, and cardiovascular endurance. She moved beautifully through deadlifts, back squats, and bench presses, demonstrating excellent body control.

Kettlebells were new to Christine, so we spent time building up her core strength and mastering technique. Swings, cleans, presses, snatches, Turkish get-ups, single and double kettlebell movements—Christine learned it all, showing up with commitment and a smile every session.

Phil isn’t just a client— he’s a friend. Before he became my first client at Eastwood Strength, we bonded over our shared interests that included, but were not limited to, training hard, challenging ourselves, and living with purpose.

A former high school and college track and football athlete, Phil was no stranger to hard work. But by the time he came to me, he felt stuck. His squat had plateaued at 225 pounds, and he avoided deadlifts because he didn’t feel confident in his form. Other coaches had helped him with the basics, but he knew he needed more than generic cues to break through his plateau.

We made small but powerful adjustments—angling his toes out 15 degrees, elevating his heels on plates to improve depth, and focusing on form and tempo to engage his glutes, quads, and hamstrings more effectively. We didn’t rush heavy numbers. We built a foundation of quality movement and confidence under the bar.

In just 12 weeks, Phil saw the difference:

• 365 lb back squat
• 155 lb shoulder press
• 355 lb deadlift
• 335 lb bench press