In today’s world, being queer, trans, and/or gender nonconforming and showing up as our authentic selves is a revolutionary act. We live in a social and political climate that is actively trying to silence and erase us. Our community is targeted by legislation that aims to take away life-saving care and allow for active discrimination against us. We carry the legacy burden of losing our elders to the HIV/AIDS crisis. We live under constant fear of harm or in harm’s direct path. Individually and collectively we experience trauma and carry it in our bodies and our beings.

There is evidence to suggest that lifting weights and doing resistance training can help us heal trauma. It can help us find ways to be in our bodies, feel strong and empowered, experience choice and autonomy, and be in community. It can also support nervous system regulation, help us manage stress and build resilience, form new neural pathways and expand our capacity for so many things - learning, experiencing joy, being in presence and connection with others.

This workshop is dedicated to supporting queer, trans, and GNC folks in learning more about how to use weight lifting to heal trauma. The primary objective of this workshop is to develop a deeper understanding of the benefits of weight training in connection to nervous system regulation and healing, and walk away with a personalized set of trauma-informed strategies for beginning, supporting, or enhancing a strength and weight training practice. This workshop is secondarily a space to be in community with other queer, trans, and GNC folks around fitness and weight lifting.

meet your facilitator

s (they/them/theirs) is a queer, nonbinary, trans personal trainer and strength coach who specializes in working with queer, trans, and GNC folks. They are an ACE certified personal trainer and hold certifications in Olympic weightlifting and kettlebell training techniques. Their coaching philosophy is trauma informed, gender affirming, weight neutral, and neurodivergent sensitive. Their coaching style is gentle, flexible, and collaborative - the client is the expert in their own body and together coach and client find ways of moving and building strength that feel safe and supportive. They offer personal training (in person or live over zoom), small group strength classes, and remote coaching, They are based in Asheville, North Carolina.