I love this gym. Coach Shen is seriously the best…read more
I came in with a lot of issues from lifting. My shoulders, hips, lower back, knees, elbows, something was always hurting or aching after I trained. Within about a month of working with Shen, all of that was gone.
A big reason is that she actually pays attention to why something is happening instead of just telling you to stretch more or work around it. She programs real warmups and mobility work, tries different things when something isn't clicking, and will change what you're doing right there in the middle of a session if she sees an issue.
She is also insanely good at spotting technical problems. When I started, pretty much everything about my lifting needed work. My elbows were bending, my positions were inconsistent, and there were problems I didn't even know I had. My snatch especially has improved so much. My positions feel way more solid now and I'm much more consistent.
I also have no idea how she manages to watch everyone in the gym at once, but she does. She'll be coaching somebody else and somehow still see your lift and immediately have something useful to tell you. You can tell she genuinely loves weightlifting and cares about making people better.
She's patient, persistent, supportive, funny, and she knows when to keep pushing you instead of letting you get frustrated and give up on something.
The people are a huge part of why I love the gym too.
I wouldn't even say beginners are just "welcome." They're encouraged. When I first started, everyone was talking to me, asking me questions, giving me tips, and helping me out. Nobody made me feel like I didn't belong because I was still learning.
You have people of every level training together. Younger people, older people, complete beginners, experienced lifters, and even national level athletes. Nobody acts above anybody else.
We all take the training seriously, but it's also hilarious in there. We push each other, celebrate PRs, help load plates, share platforms, help somebody when they're struggling, and then spend the time between sets making jokes and creating inside jokes that probably make no sense to anybody outside the gym.
It gets busy around 2 to 6, but honestly that's probably my favorite time to train because everyone is there. Even when it's crowded, people just share. We're all there to get work done.
The equipment is great too. The bars and platforms are awesome, it's actually built around weightlifting, and the new belt squat is GREAT. Having 24/7 access is also a huge plus if you want to train outside the busy hours.
What I like most is that basically anyone can walk in and have a place there. You can be brand new, you can have years of experience, or you can be competing at a very high level. It doesn't matter.
I actually look forward to going to the gym every day now. It's kind of become my oasis. I get to lift, work hard, learn, laugh with everyone, and leave feeling better than when I walked in.
If somebody asked me why they should work with Shen, I'd tell them she knows what she's doing and she'll get you where you need to be. You just have to trust her, be patient, and put the work in.
This stuff doesn't happen overnight, but I saw a pretty crazy difference in only a month.