Upper East Side

Tell us about your background and training.
I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music (of all things). I’m a Level 2 Certified CrossFit Trainer, as well as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. I’ve completed the CrossFit Weightlifting and CrossFit Gymnastics specialty courses. I also have a Diploma of Sports and Exercise Nutrition. My mother calls me a well educated fool, but I just love learning new things!

How long have you been CrossFitting?
Seven years. It’s been so long and yet not really.

What do you specialize in?
A question about specializing in a sport that doesn’t like specializing … I’m a technique snob, so I enjoy complex movements. Gymnastics and weightlifting (imagine that) are probably my favorites to tear apart and work to be better at. I could — and have — spent an hour working with athletes on just the third pull of a lift.

What are you passionate about?
I adore music, but in everything I do, I try to inspire people. I want people to look at me and be like, “Dang, kid can sing/move a bar/do a muscle-up really well. I want to be like that one day.” Oh and french fries. Golden crispy french fries.

What do you love most about coaching your members?
I love it when I offer advice or help and the athlete gets it! Then they smile. That smile is the realization that they just got better and they know they did it.

What is your athletic background? Any notable accomplishments?
I was a bum until the last year of my master’s program. I did marching band, if that counts, in high school and during undergrad. After I started CrossFit, I’ve won and been on the podium for a few CrossFit competitions in Orlando, FL and Greenville, SC. Every athlete or team I’ve ever specifically trained for a competition has gotten on the podium.

How did you end up as a CrossFit coach? What path brought you here?
After doing CrossFit for a few months, I wanted to become a better athlete and thought it would be a good idea to take the CrossFit Level 1 course and learn to move better. After that, I started to shadow at my box and programmed for a few people — people that did quite well and that lead me to get into coaching.

What’s your favorite movement to teach? To do yourself?
I have to pick one?! Cleans. Anyone can performa a clean and when they understand enough of it and can feel that magic moment of the weight going weightless, that is really something. For myself, I picked up butterfly pull-ups almost two years ago and I just love the fluidity and grace yet power required for them. They’re beautiful when done right.

What’s your favorite quote?
Music and life are all about style. – Miles Davis

Is there anything else you want people to know about you?
Nope. Fitness, music, helping others and french fries. That’s me.