Hi, I’m Holly
I’m a personal trainer, educator, and consultant with a passion for making the fitness industry a better place.
I’ve been a personal trainer specializing in pelvic health for almost a decade. I work with prenatal and postpartum clients, in addition to having experience working with clients who have pelvic health disorders such as endometriosis, PCOS and chronic pain. Over the years, I have received multiple pre & postnatal coaching certifications and I continue to pursue education and training in pelvic health.
In addition to being a certified personal trainer, I also work at NYU as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. My experience working with athletes from high school to the Division I collegiate level has made me a better and more qualified coach, even for non-athletes. Whether you are preparing for the national championships or for birth, I will coach you like the athlete you are!
Certifications
NASM Personal Trainer
NSCA Strength & Conditioning Coach
GGS Certified Pre & Post Natal Coach
USAW Level 1
As an educator, speaker and consultant, my goal is to help professionals within fitness and athletic spaces think critically about their role within the industry so that they can begin to use their power ethically and responsibly.
Sports and fitness have strong impacts on our culture. We use them to define success, beauty, health, ability, status – the list goes on. Because of the cultural capital within these spaces, those of us who work in the industry wield a lot of power. Many industry professionals, however, have not been given sufficient tools to wield this power responsibly. This can be as simple as a trainer unintentionally body-shaming a client or as complex as a strength coach facing a toxic team culture.
In order to be good leaders, we need to understand this power and where it comes from. What language are we using in the weight room? How are we approaching potential clients on the gym floor? Do we ask for consent before we touch our clients? Are we aware of how team culture is deeply connected to what happens OUTSIDE of the gym or the playing field?
My job is to provide education, inspiration, and concrete skills to ensure that the professionals and students I work with are able to build strong communities, healthy relationships, and to become responsible leaders in fitness and athletic spaces.
Education
Masters of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Williams College
At the University of Minnesota, I spent two years studying exercise behavior and sports sociology, as well as conducting my own research on gender in the gym.
I developed a vocabulary to understand fitness culture as part of a larger sociological context. I began to view fitness as a tool that has historically been used to define who has access to power, strength, gender expression, health, and space. In other words, I got even more nerdy. In the meanwhile, I began competing as a weightlifter.
Since graduating with my Master’s Degree, I have continued to think, teach, and research about the impact fitness culture has on all of us. I coach athletes, I train clients, and I compete as a weightlifter. In my teaching and writing, I critique and question fitness. As an athlete and coach, I love it. This has always been the core of me. My love for this industry paired with my desire to see it improve.
Check out my latest articles, interviews, podcast, and more.
Bet you didn’t know:
My first sport was cross country skiing!
I love to read science-fiction & fantasy novels.
I moved to NYC in 2012 to become an actor. While I will always love the stage, my true passion lies in the fitness industry.