ABOUT ME

 Hi! I’m Eli – I’m a personal trainer and coach. I love to support my clients in improving their well-being, having more energy, increasing their strength, and having fun along the way.

My training approach is rooted in four core values – resilience, adaptability, empowerment, and compassion. To me this means leading with the understanding that:

  • Life can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to find time or energy to work out

  • The fitness industry likes to capitalize on our insecurities and make us feel bad no matter what we do

  • Sometimes we feel great and want to push our limits, but other times just showing up is a huge victory and should be celebrated as such

I’ve developed this empathy-first approach to fitness through my own experiences with exercising. I’ve overdone it many times in the past—I grew up playing sports, have at times been overly obsessed with working out, and burnt myself out on numerous occasions. I’ve also been on the other end of the spectrum, not exercising nearly at all, feeling drained of energy, in pain, and unable to get through the inertia to get moving. Through all of my stops and starts, I’ve learned that a balanced approach is a sustainable approach. 

Balance will look and feel different to each individual—having a consistent practice is far more important than being acutely motivated or intense about working out, nutrition, or really just about anything. 

How I Got Here

During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, I pivoted from exercising with barbells and dumbbells in a gym to calisthenics and resistance band workouts in my bedroom. Developing this movement practice was huge for my mental health during that time. The connection between exercise and mental health laid the foundation for my current training practices, as well as my decision to pay what I’ve learned forward. 

I’m excited to work with each individual towards their specific goals. I personally have a huge love for the outdoors. Being able to hike in beautiful places is a gift of my training that I don’t take for granted. Having more energy throughout my day from workouts that fill up my cup, rather than emptying it, is another gift I’m grateful for. I want working out to be fun, because that makes being consistent so much easier. There are so many health benefits to strength training, but what the science says hardly matters if it’s not something that can be seamlessly integrated into your life.

"Little and often over the long haul"

- Dan John

Experience & Certifications

I’ve been doing some type of strength training on and off for about 10 years now and I have been working as a trainer for just under 4 years. My relevant certifications include:

  • NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT): Since September 2021

  • Dragon Door Russian Kettlebell Certified Instructor (RKC): Since May 2022

In addition to these certifications, I’ve attended Liftapalooza, a fantastic weekend-long seminar in Nashville, TN in both 2023 and 2024. Across these certifications and seminars I’ve been lucky enough to work and learn from incredible strength coaches including Dan John, Zack Henderson, Tracy Cook, Jordan Syatt, and Michael Krivka. 

I also work at HardShell Fitness in South Minneapolis under the tutelage of Ben Swarts, my mentor and coach. I was previously the Associate Director of Operations & Coaching but have shifted into a part-time capacity while I’m back in school. I’m passionate about continuing education, so I’m always looking for opportunities to deepen and broaden my knowledge—and to share what I learn with all of you!

In my time as a coach I’ve worked with people:

  • Getting back into exercise after years away

  • Preparing for a long hiking adventure

  • Seeking strength and technique for a physically demanding job

  • Wanting to improve mobility and balance

  • With goals to compete in powerlifting

  • Wanting to generally get stronger and feel better

  • And much more!