Hi, I’m Erin
Strength coach + entrepreneur + writer + dog mom + thinking introvert + outdoor lover + metalhead + fantasy nerd
My journey becoming a strength coach was not a yellow brick road…
Rewind to 2012. I spent a magnificent year in Florence, Italy studying museum practices and art history. This led me to move to Chicago, where I worked for 5+ years in museum industry on a mission to land my dream job as an exhibition developer. Lost and frustrated with years of unpaid work and empty promises, I realized I wanted to make a change.
Discovering my passion for lifting at an old school bodybuilding gym, strength training had always been a big part of my life. I knew I wanted to share my passion with others. In 2017, I became a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and founded Sustaining Strong.
Internally, I was struggling with undiagnosed adult ADHD, anxiety and lack of self-confidence. I thought training more and eating less was a quick fix for my mental health issues. This only left me feeling fatigued, stressed and irritated with my lack of progress.
Enter the kettlebell
In 2018, I discovered hardstyle kettlebell training and became obsessed with how a little ball of iron can do so much for the body and mind. Additionally, I started focusing on fueling myself with whole, nutrient dense foods and listening to what my body was telling me I needed: more fuel and less restriction. After making these changes, I quickly felt energized, less stressed and in control of my life.
Shattering self-doubt of what I can achieve has not only been a driving factor in my training, but has improved my overall quality life. I feel self-empowerment (like a badass), found a holistic remedy for anxiety and depression, now have the tools to set achievable goals, and a form of self-care.
“As a strength coach, I started helping other women understand what their body is capable of through lifting and silence the voice inside their head that says I can’t.”
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Personal Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine
Level I Kettlebell Instructor, StrongFirst
Level II Kettlebell Instructor, StrongFirst
Barbell Instructor, StrongFirst
Pure PROgramming Certified
Strong Endurance, StrongFirst
PlanStrong, StrongFirst
Certified Functional Strength Coach Level 1
CPR / AED Certified, Red Cross
Masters of Arts Degree in Museum Studies, Marist College-Lorenzo De’ Medici Institute
Bachelors of Fine Arts in Writing, The Savannah College of Art and Design