Dow Bay Area Family YMCA Personal Training will give your fitness an upgrade! All personal trainers either have a 4 year degree in an exercise related field, or have various certifications in CPR, AED, Sports and Fitness, and Personal Training.
Whatever your specific needs are, we can work with you by helping to identify your goals and then custom designing a workout plan centered around those goals. Our trainers are passionate about what they do.
They are here for you, offering motivation, encouragement, and accountability every step of the way to a new you. We want to see you succeed, which is why we provide hour and half-hour-long personal training sessions.
Justin stepped into his first gym 25 years ago and instantly knew it would change his life. Since then, he’s trained alongside bodybuilders, powerlifters, athletes, and everyday people looking to build healthier, stronger lifestyles.
A decade ago, coaching a 13‑year‑old national wrestler sparked his passion for helping others reach their full potential. That moment led him to earn his ACE Certification and expand his ability to train clients safely and effectively.
With a deep background in fitness, business management, and client development, Justin brings a professional, personalized approach to every session. He works with clients of all ages and experience levels, focusing on sustainable progress, proper technique, and long‑term results.
Whether your goal is strength, endurance, weight loss, or overall health—Justin is ready to help you get there.
Build confidence. Build strength. Build your best self.
I’m a personal trainer who specializes in strength training for beginners, prenatal and postnatal fitness, and helping people feel confident starting, or restarting, their fitness journey. I know firsthand how intimidating exercise can feel, especially when you’re new, pregnant, or returning after time away. My goal is to make strength training feel safe, approachable, and empowering.
My own fitness journey began after struggling with weight challenges most of my life and losing 77 pounds through strength training and Group Fitness Classes. That experience shaped how I coach today, with empathy, encouragement, and a strong belief that everyone can build strength. I earned my degree in Exercise Science from Saginaw Valley State University and have spent years coaching clients through group exercise and personal training.
I train a variety of clients, designing programs that safely support building strength, recovery, and long-term wellness goals. I also love working with beginners, breaking down movements, building confidence, and creating a strong foundation so clients feel comfortable and successful in the gym. I can also help Prenatal and Postnatal clients, designing programs that safely support pregnancy, recovery, and long-term strength. My coaching style is supportive, and motivating, while still challenging you to grow at your own pace.
I believe exercise should never feel like punishment. Strength training should help you feel capable, confident, and strong in your everyday life. Whether you’re preparing for motherhood, rebuilding after pregnancy, or stepping into the gym for the first time, I’m here to guide you, encourage you, and help you build habits that last a lifetime. so, you leave each session feeling accomplished and empowered.
I was introduced to the fitness world by complete luck. At 15 I was scheduled to take a P.E. Lifting class which at that time I didn’t know would change my life.
As a Senior I taught this same class as a Teaching Assistant to the underclassman. After high school I spent a few years learning and growing my versatility in a few different areas of fitness. During that time I was introduced to TRX receiving my first certification with them. In that same year I completed my Group Fitness Instructor Certification beginning my teaching career.
I continued to earn numerous certifications through TRX while continuing my strength training which has been my true passion that I continue to apply to my everyday routines.
What I enjoy most about teaching is the sense of community and support the members provide one another. They allow me to be a part of their lives helping them create a healthier lifestyle all while they help me grow as a person and instructor.
Growing up with 8 brothers, sports and competition were always a big part of my life. I started my weightlifting journey in my sophomore year of high school with two of my brothers, with the goal of improving my athletic performance.
Since then, weightlifting has been a staple in my life getting me through many hardships. I was drawn to personal training because it gave me the opportunity to offer the benefits that I had found in exercise to others.
My interest in fitness led me to SVSU which equipped me with the necessary knowledge and experience to work with a wide range of clients.
My main focus is on resistance training with the majority focusing on free weights. I have experience with calisthenics and HIIT training programming. I would not call myself a drill sergeant but I do push my clients.
My overall goal is to help them find their internal motivation and provide them with the necessary knowledge to take charge of their fitness goals.
I grew up playing sports, rollerblading, and always enjoyed being active! I enjoyed any opportunity to help coach a sport, especially if it was one I also loved to play. So coaching and training always played a part in my life in some way.
I have always had weight fluctuations and growing up I never saw personal trainers who looked like me, or athletes who looked like me- until I found roller derby. Roller derby jumpstarted my love and passion for fitness again. That’s when I realized that I wanted to be a trainer!
I wanted to be the person who I wished I saw growing up as a kid. So I worked through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) to become a personal trainer because I believe everyone deserves to feel and be a confident champion in their own body. I love being able to help people feel good about themselves and getting to be a part of their hype team is the best!
From an early age, I discovered how powerful movement can be—not just for athletic performance, but for building a stronger, healthier life. Competing in three sports at the collegiate level taught me the importance of consistency, resilience, and striving to become the best version of yourself.
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Strength and Conditioning from Ohio Northern University, with minors in Exercise Physiology and Entrepreneurship. As a collegiate athlete in football, powerlifting, and track & field, I developed a deep understanding of how movement, recovery, and discipline work together to build performance and longevity. That experience continues to drive my passion for helping others improve their mobility, overcome pain, and rediscover the joy of movement.
At the YMCA, I’m committed to working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds to make fitness approachable and sustainable. I believe in challenging the idea that age or past injuries define your limits—and instead, showing that with the right guidance and support, anyone can take steps toward a healthier lifestyle.
Outside of training others, I stay active by preparing for endurance events, including half marathons and triathlons. I enjoy the process of setting goals, pushing physical limits, and continually learning how to improve—both for myself and for the people I coach
“Love thy neighbor and love thyself”—words I was raised on, and words I live by. At the YMCA, I’ve found the perfect place to live out that mission—building up others while encouraging self-respect, growth, and confidence through fitness. Helping others become the strongest, healthiest version of themselves isn’t just my job—it’s my calling.
Growing up in a military household with three awesome siblings and two courageous parents, discipline, compassion, and service were at the heart of everything we did. My mom’s passion for healing as a medical professional and my dad’s dedication to fitness created the perfect storm—I fell in love with both helping people and the gym from a young age. That love became the foundation for the work I do today.
Over the last three years as a personal trainer, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside clients through transformative journeys. I’ve seen fitness not only reshape bodies but renew minds, boost confidence, and spark purpose. Every client’s victory—no matter how big or small—is a reminder of why I do what I do.
If you’re ready to make a difference in your health, know this: I got your back. You bring the willingness, I’ll bring the plan, encouragement, and accountability. Let’s get to work—and I’ll see you in the gym!
For years, Lily has integrated fitness, health, and wellness into her own life, and she believes that meaningful change begins with sustainable habit. When habits change, lives change.
Lily’s interest truly peaked when entering college. She was a collegiate athlete, majoring in exercise science, and wanted to build strength and learn proper movement mechanics. That experience shaped her philosophy: everyone starts somewhere, and everyone deserves a place in the gym—whether training for sport, maintaining muscle mass, improving balance, or simply investing in long-term health.
Lily has experience working with a diverse range of clients, including adolescents, athletes, postpartum women, and older adults. She understands that no two individuals are the same, and effective training is never one-size-fits-all. Each program she designs is tailored to the client’s goals, needs, and abilities, ensuring safe, effective, and sustainable progress.
ACE Certified Personal Trainer since 2023
ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist since 2024
BLS/CPR/AED/First Aid Certified since 2023
My father signed me up to start wrestling in 7th grade and little did I know what I was getting into. Prior to starting wrestling I was not in any other sports or activities similar so it was a drastic change of lifestyle. However; it changed my life in a way I never imagined. I loved the physical and mental demands of the sport that helped me grow as a person.
Going into my senior year I dislocated my shoulder and lost my senior year due to the injury and that was difficult, but after having a surgery and going through physical therapy. I was eager to go to the gym after I recovered and my love for the gym grew rapidly.
I enjoy training with intensity and purpose. I want to push my clients where they leave the workout knowing they gave their best effort, and feel good after a session. I am a big fan of using free weights for exercises and utilizing certain machines.
My passion for the gym inspired me to become a certified personal trainer because I want to help others achieve their fitness goals.
I have been into health and fitness ever since I was 16.
With a foundation built on over 12 years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience and a certification through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), I am dedicated to helping the YMCA community achieve total health and confidence.
My training philosophy goes beyond traditional gym routines. I focus on developing functional strength and mobility—the essential physical attributes that not only improve your general health but ensure you have the power and capability to protect and defend yourself if the need arises.
Whether you are looking to build a resilient body for everyday life or want to sharpen the physical skills required for any type of emergency situation, I provide a science-backed, disciplined approach tailored to your individual goals.
YMCA Facility Update
We’re happy to share that the Y will resume normal hours January 30th at 5:00 AM. Our 24/7 Fitness area will reopen , January 29th at 9:00 PM.
Individuals will not be turned away from participating in programs, activities, and/or membership due to their inability to pay. The Y maintains a generous financial assistance program for youth, adults, and families who demonstrate financial need. Funding for this program is provided by fundraising events at the Dow Bay Area Family YMCA and community-wide donors.
There is a reduced joining fee. $25 for Youth/Teen, $25 for Adult, and $50 for Household memberships.