After a year without in-person training, I am welcoming trainees back to my garage gym studio! Private or semi-private lessons are 90 minutes and are held in my fully decked-out garage gym studio in Shoreline. There’s plenty of ventilation with the door open, and if you are fully vaccinated against COVID (as I am!), no mask required!

 

Group lessons will hopefully be returning soon as well. If you are interested in group classes, you can help with scheduling by filling out this quick interest survey.

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paladino Strength has temporarily ceased all in-person training sessions, including private sessions and small group classes. All class fees were refunded by March 26.

Class sessions will be opened for re-enrollment once it is deemed safe to do so by King County officials. Unfortunately, the exact timeline is unknown at this point. Whenever classes and training do resume, I plan to continue safety measures that had been implemented in early March, including wiping all equipment down before and after use, encouraging mask-wearing, having sanitizing spray and wipes available during all sessions, and limiting physical proximity. Additional safety measures (such as reducing class sizes from the current 3-4 per class) may be taken as well, depending on local and state recommendations.

I continue to offer online coaching, which includes weekly exercise programming and video form analysis. This can be a helpful option whether your current available training locations include a gym, home gym, or limited/no equipment at home.

The post COVID-19 Update appeared first on Paladino Strength.

Two beginner and two intermediate group class options are available for February-April 2020.

Group classes are a cost-effective, motivating way to share your strength journey with friends old & new.

STRENGTH FUNDAMENTALS CLASSES:

• Thursdays 6:30-8:00pm and Sundays 9:00-10:30am in Shoreline. $360 for 16 classes. February 20 through April 26.
• Saturdays 12:30-2:00pm in Ballard. $240 for 8 classes (or $35 for single class registration). February 15 through April 4.

INTERMEDIATE STRENGTH CLASSES:

• Tuesdays 4:00-5:30pm and Saturdays 10:30am-12:00pm in Ballard. $425 for 19 classes. [FULL]
• Mondays and Wednesdays 6:00-7:30pm in Shoreline. $400 for 18 classes. February 17 through April 22.

Above prices do not include sales tax.

Enrollment is now open!

If you miss the signup window for these classes, you can email me to be one of the first people I notify next time classes are opening. You can also schedule private in-person sessions, or start a monthly online coaching subscription, at any time.

The post February through April: Strength Fundamentals, Saturday Strength, and Intermediate Strength Group appeared first on Paladino Strength.

You can now check out Paladino Strength on Yelp!

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I’m super excited to offer another 8-week beginner series starting in December. This series will be held at my garage gym studio in Shoreline, and thus will be capped at 3 participants.

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-8:00pm
• Starts December 3; ends January 30
• Classes meet at Paladino Strength in Shoreline
• $360 for 15 90-minute classes

Saturday Strength

I’m also thrilled to continue my Saturday Strength class, which meets at Strive & Uplift in Ballard. This is a great way to dip your toes into strength training, or for those with very full schedules. Open to all levels!

• Saturdays, 12:30-2:00pm
• Starts December 7; ends February 8
• Classes meet at Strive & Uplift in Ballard
• $35/class drop-in rate OR save 14% and book the entire 8 classes for $240

The post Winter Strength Fundamentals 2019-2020 and Saturday Strength appeared first on Paladino Strength.

I’m excited to announce that as part of my new affiliate gym status with Women’s Strength Coalition I will be hosting a fundraiser event on December 14th! The event will be held at Paladino Strength in Shoreline, and has two components:

Deadlift Clinic

I will be offering a deadlift clinic, open to everyone! Whether you are a proficient deadlifter wanting to have your form checked out, a novice lifter looking for reinforcement and cues, or a complete newbie ready to learn how to pick up a heavy weight from the floor, I can help you out! No experience necessary, open to all ages.

Clothing Swap

At the same time, I will also be holding an athleticwear clothing swap! Score some sweet new gear for your workouts. Your donation gets you in to pick out up to 5 items from the stash. Interested in donating something? Email me to arrange a drop-off or pick-up prior to the event. Available sizes will be announced closer to the actual event — I am hoping to have a wide range of sizes represented.

Details

This is a charity event, and all proceeds will be donated to WSC.

SUGGESTED DONATIONS:

Deadlift clinic: $20
Clothing swap: $10
Both: $25

ABOUT WSC:

Women’s Strength Coalition is a non-profit organization with four key values: 

1. Increasing Access (by breaking down prohibitive barriers to fitness, sport, and strength training)
2. Strength for All (by uplifting everyone equally, through advocacy, access, and education)
3. Collaboration Over Competition (by providing support and visibility for existing nonprofits and organizations that align with our mission, as a way to make greater, sustainable change)
4. Meaningful Partnerships (by building a network of community leaders, like-minded fitness professionals, and affiliate gyms, unified to strengthen efforts on a larger scale)

The post Deadlift Clinic & Clothing Swap: Dec 14 appeared first on Paladino Strength.

Why use a deadlift bar?

Deadlift-specific bars tend to bend more under a load. This allows the middle part of the bar (where it is gripped during a deadlift) to move further upward before the full weight loaded onto the bar breaks away from the floor, becoming fully supported by the lifter. At the top of the lift, the weight sits slightly lower than it would with a stiffer bar, equating to less work done. Although this effect is hardly noticeable at lesser weights, deadlift bars can allow slightly more weight to be lifted — if the lifter is proficient with the tool.

Deadlift bars are also distinct from standard bars in a few other ways. The center of the bar is smooth (unknurled), as center knurling has no purpose in a deadlift, aside from scraping the shins more than is necessary. Deadlift bars are also slightly thinner than standard bars — the diameter of the Buddy Capps bar is 27mm, whereas high-quality standard bars tend to be 28-29 mm.

How did I pick this deadlift bar?

The major competitor that I considered was the Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar. The Texas Deadlift Bar is the bar used in nearby United States Powerlifting Association competitions, so it is nice to train with an implement that has the highest specificity and carryover to competition. Both the Texas and Ohio bars have pretty aggressive knurling, and I like that the Texas bar’s knurling is slightly less aggressive.

I went for the black zinc shaft and chrome sleeves, for low maintenance (bare steel sleeves require regular 3-in-1 oil application to avoid rust, especially in damp climes like the Pacific Northwest).

Try it out

Book a private coaching session and try the new bar out!

The post Paladino Strength now has a Texas Deadlift Bar! appeared first on Paladino Strength.

I’m really excited to expand my group class offerings for the Fall, after the success of the Summer Strength Fundamentals class. There are three options; all three are geared toward beginners or folks who are new to working with barbells. (Info about an intermediate class coming soon!)

• Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00pm (Shoreline)
  • $380/person for 16 classes; limited to 3 lifters
  • Starts August 26
• Tuesdays 4:00-5:30pm and Saturdays 10:30am-12:00pm (Ballard)
  • $380/person for 16 classes; limited to 6 lifters
  • Starts August 27
• Saturdays 12:30-2:00pm (Ballard)
  • $240/person for 8 classes plus 2 additional workouts per week to complete on your own
  • Starts September 28
  • Great for folks who already have access to a gym but want the support and accountability of regular coaching and a fun social group!

Registration is now open, and space is limited! Classes are open to all levels of fitness and ability. These groups are dedicated to building strength and confidence in an environment that is affirming of all identities, and free from body shame. We focus on what our bodies can do, not what they look like.

The post Fall Strength Fundamentals 2019 appeared first on Paladino Strength.

I now offer online coaching options via the TrueCoach platform. All online coaching packages include:

• Customized programming for up to 4 workouts per week.
• Weekly check-ins
• Unlimited video review & form feedback
• Unlimited email support

Remote-only online coaching requires an initial intake phone (or Skype) call to discuss goals, prior experience, and equipment access.

The post Online Coaching Options Are Now Available appeared first on Paladino Strength.

This 8-week small-group class will meet on Saturdays 9:00-10:30 am and Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 am, learning basic barbell movements like the squat, deadlift, bench press, and overhead press. All levels of experience and ability are welcome, although the class is geared toward folks new to barbell-based training. The class will be held at Strive & Uplift in Ballard. Class is limited to 6 students! Begins June 15; last class August 10.

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