About Strong Side
Strong Side is a private gym in the heart of New Westminster. We provide a coach-supervised gym where our members execute their personalised workouts within an inclusive community.
Our mission is to help people take back their lives by improving their health and fitness. Whether you want to hike the Scottish Highlands (like Coach TJ), or play with your kids without getting winded, it all requires physical fitness.
We know firsthand how improving your fitness improves your life. We know how discovering your strength in the gym translates to the personal strength to overcome adversity in our day-to-day life. How the confidence we build through lifting weights, builds our confidence to go after what we want in life.
Finding your strong side is about so much more than physical strength; it’s about being the best version of yourself and living life fully. Our coaches are here to take you to the next level.
Staff Bios
- What is your coaching philosophy? At this point in my career, coaching is just what I do. I don’t really have a philosophy anymore. There are so many ways to get to where you are going, my job is to find the way that works best for you, and make it make sense.
- What is your philosophy around living a healthy lifestyle? Take it from someone who has battled obesity more than once; Your health is all you have, and maintaining it is worlds easier than fighting with it over and over again. Put in the work when you can, be consistent, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. It’s worth it.
- What is your athletic background? Ive been in martial arts most of my life. It was one of the few things I never stopped doing, despite my health challenges. Karate for 13 years, I wrestled, and got involved with Mixed Martial Arts when it was in its infancy.
- What is your favourite thing about being a coach? The AH HA! moment never stops giving me goosebumps. That look that a client or athlete has when something that you’ve said or corrected just “clicks”.
- What is your favourite thing about Strong Side? What it’s become. I didn’t originally envision Strong Side being what it is today, but in every way, it’s better. I couldn’t ask for better members, or a better team.
- What inspires you to train every day? I need new challenges, so I don’t train the same way that I used to. I do what I need, to maintain where I am, so that I can try new things.
- When you aren’t at the gym, where can we find you? In a chair with a book, on my motorcycle, or hiking way back in the bush with no one around for miles.
- What’s your favourite non-gym activity? Camping
- A Little known fact about me: I secretly hate mashed potatoes, It’s like eating glue!
- What is your coaching philosophy?
Movement is for everyone; HOW you move is unique to you. - What is your philosophy around living a healthy lifestyle?
You only get one body in this life; Care for it, strengthen it, nourish it, let it be the vessel that allows you to live the life you want and desire for as long as possible. - What is your athletic background?
I have participated recreationally and competitively in many sports – Ultimate Frisbee, Track & Field, Cross Country, Squash, Basketball (yes, it’s true), Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Ninjitsu, snowboarding, breakdancing, heels dance - What is your favourite thing about being a coach?
Client breakthroughs by reaching a goal, progressing an exercise or completing a difficult program is the thing I love most about being a coach. - What is your favourite thing about Strong Side?
Strong Side has a community acceptance like no other gym. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, what you’ve been through/are going through, at Strong Side you and your journey are honoured. - What inspires you to train every day?
Honestly, feeling inspired to train regularly is tough – when there are so many other things happening in life and it feels like you’re juggling more things you can keep track of, movement is one of the few things that brings me back to the present moment. - When you aren’t at the gym, where can we find you?
Exploring the city, looking for hidden pockets of nature or getting lost in a forest. - What’s your favourite non-gym activity?
Painting, or doing puzzles - A Little known fact about me:
Pizza is the best food ever, simply because you can eat it hot or cold and everything can go on it (yes, even pineapple). And chocolate is its own food group.
- What is your coaching philosophy? You can rebuild the body at any point in your life.
- What is your philosophy around living a healthy lifestyle? Everything begins with your mind. There is a saying ” You either spend time taking care of your wellness or you will be spending time taking care of your sickness, you choose.
- What is your athletic background? Play all sports. Coach Hockey at many levels.
- What is your favourite thing about being a coach? When people realize they can achieve anything in life.
- What is your favourite thing about Strong Side? The clients.
- What inspires you to train every day? How my body shows me the power it has to overcome everything at this point in my life.
- When you aren’t at the gym, where can we find you? Traveling this beautiful planet. and meeting new people.
- What’s your favourite non-gym activity? Travel
- A Little known fact about me:I love to Drive Fast cars. I went to Vegas and drove a Lamborghini on the race track once to scratch that itch.
- What is your coaching philosophy? I believe strength and conditioning should enhance our lives, not consume it. What we do in the gym should have a carry over in your daily life. I’m not trying to kill you, I promise.
- What is your philosophy around living a healthy lifestyle? Health is at the root of everything. If you don’t have your health taken care of, everything else is pointless. I truly believe living an active life can combat the majority of health problems they face everyday.
- What is your athletic background? I’ve played sports my entire life and just recently finished my career at SFU playing football.
- What is your favourite thing about being a coach? My favourite thing about being a coach is the one on one relationships I get to build everyday with my clients.
- What is your favourite thing about Strong Side? Strongside is like a family and there really is no other gym atmosphere like it.
- What inspires you to train every day? I’m on a mission to become the best version of myself and in order to do this I must continue to stay active and push my limits. Also… food
- When you aren’t at the gym, where can we find you? If I’m not in the gym I’m probably in the studio.
- What’s your favourite non-gym activity?Music is my passion!
- A Little known fact about me:I can’t pronounce the “th” at the end of words. Ask me in person and I’ll show you
- What is your coaching philosophy? Success is the product of hardwork
- What is your philosophy around living a healthy lifestyle? keeping a healthy active lifestyle allows myself to improve my self-esteem.
- What is your athletic background? Mixed martial artist.
- What is your favourite thing about being a coach? learning how to be a better coach with the help of the clients.
- What is your favourite thing about Strong Side? the fun loving community.
- What inspires you to train every day? Looking good in the mirror to inflate my ego
- When you aren’t at the gym, where can we find you? at school.
- What’s your favourite non-gym activity? video games.
- A Little known fact about me: Frozen hot chocolate is just a chocolate milkshake.
- What is your coaching philosophy? Strength is the key to unlocking your potential
- What is your philosophy around living a healthy lifestyle? Show up each day and do the best you can
- What is your athletic background? powerlifter, crossfit athlete
- What is your favourite thing about being a coach? You leave people happier and healthier than when you met them
- What is your favourite thing about Strong Side? The SSC community!
- What inspires you to train every day? My baby girl who looks up to me everyday
- When you aren’t at the gym, where can we find you? at a playground or a waterpark #momlife
- What’s your favourite non-gym activity? winery hopping
- A Little known fact about me:I enjoy food logging everything which it allows me a bit of control amidst chaos during motherhood
Simone graduated from McGill University with a Masters of Applied Sciences in Physical Therapy in 2019 and a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa in 2016. During her time at University of Ottawa, she played rugby as an All-Canadian varsity athlete and competed for Team Canada.
Since graduating, she has gained a special interest in sport injuries, geriatrics and is currently looking to further her knowledge in vestibular and concussion rehab. Simone takes a collaborative approach to patient care. Since completing her studies, she has taken courses in Mulligan Concepts, Manual therapy and Rapid NeuroFascial Reset. Her treatment approach uses a combination of manual therapy, exercise prescription and patient education.
Outside of the clinic, you will find Simone weightlifting, paddle boarding and coaching rugby in the community.
**Additional Training**
IMS Dry Needling and Acupuncture, Rapid NeuroFascial Reset, Mulligan, Concussion/Vestibular Rehab
