Olympic Lifting coach Astrid has spent most of her life participating in athletics and creating positive, affirming gym cultures. Growing up, she played basketball in high school and lacrosse in college, where she discovered her passion for functional fitness and CrossFit. These experiences laid the foundation for her deep appreciation of strength, movement, and team environments.
After college, Astrid dedicated two years to training full-time for Olympic weightlifting, immersing herself in the technical and mental demands of the sport. A knee injury eventually forced her to step away from competition, but the experience led her to develop a comprehensive and thoughtful coaching philosophy. She believes in blending radical empathy with explosive movement, emphasizing the critical importance of recovery, proper muscle activation, stability, strength, and the often-overlooked power of rest days.
Before fully transitioning into the fitness world, Astrid also worked in the operating room, where she specialized in orthopedics, general surgery, and neurosurgery. Her time in the OR gave her a unique, hands-on understanding of the human body—specifically the complex structures of bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves—and how they function together. This background has profoundly influenced her coaching approach, allowing her to train clients with an eye toward long-term joint health, injury prevention, and functional movement integrity.
Astrid holds USAW-L1 and CF-L1 certifications and has gained coaching experience at Hardware Strength & Conditioning and LifeTime Fitness, where she’s worked with athletes of all levels and backgrounds.
Outside the gym, Astrid loves volunteering at the Evanston Animal Shelter, biking around the city, and unwinding at home with her three beloved dogs: Ca$h, Echo, and Charlie.
