My Mission
is to empower ALL women, girls and non-binary folks to look beyond the scale as a measure of health and beauty. I believe that strength training is for everyBODY and I take a comprehensive approach to getting stronger, moving with more ease and feeling good in your body. I actively practice body neutrality; focusing on respect for our body and how it feels and implement knowledge from my own accreditations, experience and other experts in the health and fitness industry. I support and welcome LGBTQIA+ community members.
My Coaching Journey
goes all the way back to high school. I had only been swimming for a couple of years and started teaching swim lessons for my club team. My swimming career took me to Missouri State University as a Division I athlete where I studied mathematics and continued to teach young children how to swim.
After college, I thought swimming was behind me. Little did I know, the universe had other plans and two years later, I was back on deck. This time coaching masters swimmers and eventually joining prominent club teams in Illinois to see swimmers compete at the highest levels in our state, country and world.
After 11 years of being primarily on a pool deck (2011-2022), I decided to step into the realm of personal training. To be honest, it’s not as big a shift as some might think! With extensive knowledge in the fitness industry due to years of coaching and understanding how to truly motivate and connect with others, personal training came naturally to me. My education, experience in weight rooms through my own athletic journey, training young athletes and starting out at a local Chicago gym has given me the confidence to help others achieve their goals. I’ve strength trained people at all sizes and ages, from adolescent to those in their golden years. I’m not just a personal trainer. I’m an accountability partner, a coach, an aid in connecting you with medical experts, and if you’re interested, a friend!
In my free time, I try to spend as much time as possible with my husband, Jake and dogs, Kif and Zap. I enjoy watching Star Trek, traveling, eating and local political engagement. In previous years, I held roles as a DEI co-chair for Illinois Swimming and a voting member of the USA Swimming National DEI Committee. Oh yeah, and I throw pots too!
Stay well,
Alex
Accreditations
American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer Certified
Functional Range Systems Mobility Specialist Certified
SITA Size Inclusive Training Specialist
American Red Cross Lifeguard Certified
American Red Cross CPR/AED Certified
National Federation of State High School Associations Concussion Protocol Certified
USA Swimming Coach Member
What Makes Blue Room Different?
There’s a million and one personal training studios and gyms out there, so what sets Blue Room Training apart? This is a non-judgemental space with a trainer who leaves preconceived notions behind and works with you to determine what you need and want. I know what it’s like to feel out of place, worried that others think you have no idea what you’re doing (even if you do!). At Blue Room I don’t expect you to know anything, to be in a certain kind of body, to want to lose weight or to leave vanity at the door. In this space you have the ability to share what you want and decide what you want without condescension, harmful tactics or judgy side-eye.
Blue Room is an intimate studio gym with glass brick windows and nestled behind large bushes and a fence. You never need to worry about someone walking past and looking in, giving you the opportunity to truly feel unseen (in the best way possible) and help self consciousness. Plus, there’s no mirrors y’all! No need to body check while you’re trying a bunch of new activity. I want you to feel what your body is doing instead of looking at what it’s doing.
Lastly, I sincerely encourage you to come as you are. The expectation that we can leave things for later as if what is happening in our day(s) plays no role in who we are in any moment is absurd. It is possible to be hurting, excited or scared AND professional or personable at the same time. How do I know this? Because that’s how I show up every day and people still come to see me. If I’m having a rough day and you ask me how I am, I’m going to tell you how I really am and then I’m going to move on to your workout. That’s life - sometimes miserable, sometimes amazing but we still do the laundry, go to work, care for our families, show up for ourselves because we have to. And it’s a hell of a lot easier to do all that if we don’t have to act like everything is peachy keen.
Throughout my childhood I lived in three different states, New Jersey, Michigan and Tennessee. The only home that has been a constant for my entire life is my grandparent’s in Pennsylvania, built the year I was born. Each bedroom was painted and decorated with a particular color and to this day we refer to them by the color of the walls - the green room (though it’s no longer green), gold room and grey room. When we purchased our home, we painted one of our bedrooms blue. This was the room I started using to train clients and Blue Room Training was born! Blue Room is an homage to my grandparents who created a loving home that I will always cherish and whom passed on generational wealth that allowed me the opportunity to create a welcoming space for others.
What’s the story behind Blue Room?
What’s In Blue Room?
Weight rack & accessories
Hex bar, barbells & bumper plates
Resistance bands
Dumbbells and kettlebells
Cable system
Benches
Yoga mats & blocks
Speakers and Spotify
Changing room (bathroom upon request)
Cubbies and hooks for shoes and belongings
Drinking water (cold and hot)
Snacks
Sweat towels, hair ties, deodorant, phone charger
What are the Benefits?
You’ll have your personal accountability partner (me!) who doesn’t judge or shame
One on one personalized training, in a body neutral, weight-inclusive environment
Better mobility, strength, improved health
Intimate and private setting with just the trainer, no gawkers
Stay on track and get through a workout within 60 minutes
Security, no need to worry about your belongings
Ability to track your workouts through Bridge Athletic App
Ability to workout from anywhere with pre-written workouts and videos of each exercise through Bridge Athletic App
What is body neutrality?
At Blue Room, body neutrality means approaching your body with respect and coming as you are. No toxic positivity here - some days you might not like your body and that’s ok. As a person who is dealing with body image issues, I understand what it’s like to not recognize yourself and the frustrations that come along with it. I’ve learned that it’s not how you look or the number on the scale that’s important, but how you feel. One thing I can guarantee is that when you work with me, you work with someone who doesn’t judge your worth or value by the ability, size or shape of your body.