Meet the coach who brought Strength Connected to the North Shore…

It was through Shayan’s own personal fitness journey, a journey that started as an insecure overweight teenager, which allowed him to grow and succeed as a coach. The confidence and drive that Shayan demonstrates today stem from the strength he acquired, emotionally and physically, from the coaches that gave him the tools and guidance he needed at an important time in his life. Shayan’s passion for athletics began early in high school with wrestling and rugby. Out of high school, he competed in triathlons, half marathons, and a marathon. It wasn’t until he started Crossfit that he understood the importance of functional fitness.

Shayan’s coaching philosophy is to set a client up for success by focusing on their goals and providing individualized programs which encompass fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching. He is a firm believer that surrounding yourself with people who inspire, motivate and empower is the key to success and that coaching is not confined to what happens inside the gym.

His training programs are purposeful and incorporate movements that are necessary and common in your daily activities or specific sport. Shayan’s coaching and educational background speak volumes to his passion for continual learning. After completing his Human Kinetics Diploma, he completed his NCCP Level 1 Olympic Lifting Certification and OPEX CCP.

Shayan is excited to change how personal training is done on the North Shore through personalized fitness. You can contact Shayan at info@strengthconnected.com

Get to know Coach Liz

Liz came to coaching originally through her own experience as a competitive athlete. Playing competitive soccer through university, playing high-level rugby, and competing in the Crossfit South Central Regionals as part of a team in 2011, 2012, and 2014, she knows the personal value, sense of empowerment, and camaraderie that can come from physical fitness. Her induction into the Grinnell College Athletics Hall of Fame for her role as a soccer goalie was a major milestone. However, it is the ongoing relationship with fitness that has had a lasting impact on her life she hopes to as a coach to impart on others.

Liz’s coaching philosophy involves taking an integrated approach to well-being and fitness and creating realistic targets to progressively make changes that are long-lasting. She has experience with a wide range of clients, from introducing people to the gym for the first time, to training high-level athletes with very specific goals and needs, and enjoys working with people of different skill levels and varied fitness goals. 

Liz draws on her depth of knowledge and 10 years of coaching experience. Liz became involved in Crossfit early on and became a head coach at Crossfit NOLA in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2012. After completing her Crossfit Level 1 and 2 certifications, Liz went on to pursue further training and holds certifications in Crossfit Weightlifting Level 1 and 2, Gymnastics, and Mobility. 

Liz has been providing personalized fitness programming since she moved to Vancouver in 2016. Her focus has always been on meeting the needs of individual clients to holistically reach their goals- from fitness performance to lifestyle. Recognizing the limitations of the Crossfit model, she has also pursued many courses and certifications that enable her to draw on an expansive knowledge base to best tailor her programming for each individual client. Liz's education consists of the OPEX CPP, Precision Nutrition level 1 certification, Training Think Tank in exercise physiology, energy systems, strength systems, and mobility, and also holds certifications in Functional Movement System (FMS Level 1), and Catalyst Athletics (Level 1). 

Get to know Coach Sammy

Sammy has a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia and is a long lover of physical fitness and sports. She competed in various competitive sports in high school, her favorites being field hockey, track and field, and rugby. Strength training came more in university where she found a true passion for weight lifting and the overall gym atmosphere. She became certified via CSEP for personal training in 2017 where she came to love helping others achieve their fitness goals.

A firm believer in learning through others, she herself was coached at Strength Connected to improve her own coaching. Enjoying the experience so much, she joined the team to help others along with their fitness journeys in a more personalized fashion.

Get to know Coach Tomáš

Tomáš is currently in his fourth year of a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at Capilano University. His academic journey helped him discover his passion for the intricacies of the human body. Tomáš has extensive experience working with several rehabilitation programs, which has taught him the value of the client-centered approach and empowerment through education. Tomáš's philosophy on developing an exercise program is that it is a collaborative process, always tailored to each client.

Tomáš’s love for sports started at a young age through competitive swimming and tennis. At the age of 12, Tomas participated in his first national swimming competition in the Czech Republic. His focus then shifted to tennis, competing in tournaments throughout Europe and Canada. Participation in high-level sports solidified Tomáš's fundamental values of goal setting, hard work, and consistency.

Recognizing the therapeutic value of physical activity on one’s well-being, Tomáš decided to complete the NSCA CSCS and the SportsAid BC certification. Coaching allows Tomáš to channel his passion for physical activity by sharing his knowledge and experience to support others on their journey toward their fitness goals.

When Tomáš is not studying or working, he spends his time running, swimming, biking, or skiing around North Vancouver. He can also be spotted in the trails with his Duck Tolling Retriever, Arch

Get to know Coach Sean

Sean’s main commitment is to be a positive force in as many people's lives as possible through sharing his knowledge of health and fitness. He believes in a precise, holistic, and compassionate approach to creating sustainable change in health and fitness. He wants to guide his clients toward being able to express their fitness through myriad modalities - whether it be a new deadlift personal best, preserving autonomy, or to keep playing and laughing until their last days and thriving in a life unburdened by poor health or injury.

Sean is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia. He wants to pursue a career in physiotherapy and academia. He has experience in 1-on-1 S&C/nutrition coaching with a wide range of clients, from varsity-level athletes to dancers, to cancer survivors, and holds a CF-L1 certification. He also has experience volunteering in clinical settings for novel interventions for those with spinal cord injuries. In terms of athletics, he has competed at a regional level in volleyball and is currently training to become competitive at the regional level in CrossFit. 

Sean has lived in 4 countries and is fluent in Japanese and English. When he is not studying or working he can be found training, cooking, or spending time in nature with his friends. 

Get to know Coach Nathan

Nathan has a passion for helping clients achieve a healthy lifestyle and participate in activities that they love with increased energy, strength, and enthusiasm. He aspires to help clients of all ages through fitness, nutrition, and sustainable lifestyle practices. Nathan is a certified CanFitPro Personal Training Specialist and NSCA CSPS. His previous years of experience in rehabilitation of the foot and lower limb as a Certified Pedorthist and run coach give him experience in lower limb biomechanics and personalized client care.

Nathan believes in a personalized approach to health and well-being through a variety of modalities. Whether a client’s goal is to be more active, compete in a sport, or simply complete daily activities without pain, Nathan is passionate about finding a solution that fits into their lifestyle. Growing up playing multiple sports including hockey and soccer, Nathan transitioned into competing in running and triathlon events in the past few years. With a wide range of knowledge in different sports, he can help clients achieve their goals inside and outside of the gym.

Outside of the gym, Nathan enjoys all kinds of activities — running, cycling, hiking, hockey, tennis — and uses his experience in these to help clients excel at their daily activities.