Madison
I’m here to help you trust the person you already are, not change you into somebody new.
Madison
Personal Trainer (she/her)
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English and bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin
Certifications: NASM CPT, NASM CNC
Personality: Warm, goofy, passionate, perceptive
About me
My career started with 8 years in finance and data analytics before I leapt into the fitness world. I’ve been on the personal trainer path since, training clients out of my home gym, and I’ve loved every minute of it. Through 1:1 and group personal training, I’ve worked with folks from a wide variety of fitness backgrounds—athletes to complete gym newbies!
I decided to become a personal trainer because I want to help people live longer, happier lives. My fitness struggled for years between multiple injuries and a 9-to-5 desk job. When I chose to work with a personal trainer, it was the beginning of an upward trajectory that helped me reclaim my relationship with fitness and move pain-free for the first time in a decade. The improvements to my life—less pain, more energy, better disposition, better sleep—were so massive that I decided to leave my old career behind and help other folks experience the benefits of strength training just like I did.
I love personal training because it allows me to use so many of my passions and skills. I love building relationships with people and really getting to know them. I love continuing education opportunities, and every session with a client is a practical learning experience for me. I am organized, detail-oriented, and thorough, which makes putting exercise programs together and tracking progress a real treat for me. Most of all, I love making a positive impact on the lives of others, and the gym is a phenomenal place to do that.
I worked with a client once who was diagnosed with POTS and hadn’t seriously exercised for years. After about 6 weeks of weekly strength training, she let me know she was now able to get up off the floor with reduced dizziness and POTS symptoms! Nothing makes me more certain that I love this career than hearing how clients have improved their quality of life through strength training.
My ideal clients are folks who have felt like fitness or the gym “wasn’t for them”—especially plus-size folks and people managing conditions like POTS or EDS who need a trainer to work with their body, not against it. I love bringing people “into the club.” You may never get a warm, fuzzy feeling when you look at a pair of dumbbells, but with some time, I bet we can find a couple of exercises you feel jazzed about!
Clients enjoy working with me because I provide a warm, welcoming approach to fitness that doesn’t feel like a traditional gym or wellness angle. I respect their knowledge of their own bodies and guide them to the best way to take care of themselves. Clients work with me because they want to make long-term, positive changes in a safe place that allows them to push themselves.
Specialties
Endurance and strength training, weight loss, muscle gain, and confidence building.
Philosophy
Trust in your body; it can do great things. It’s so easy to get disconnected from our bodies in this busy, screen-heavy, cubicle-filled world. I believe strength training and all kinds of exercise can help us get back in touch with the wonderful things we’re capable of. We unlock that trust through consistency, achieving small goals, and trying things that scare us, and the effects go beyond what we’re capable of in the gym.
I spent almost ten years in a 9-to-5 desk job before becoming a personal trainer, so when you work with me, you’re working with someone who remembers what it’s like to struggle to show up for a workout. I’ve been where a lot of my clients are—feeling like the fitness world wasn’t built for me—and that shapes how I coach. I’m patient, encouraging, and 100% in your corner. I take your goals seriously, but you can definitely expect some laughter along the way.
Working with a personal trainer means having someone help you carry the mental load of your health and wellness. It’s my job to think about your strength, cardiovascular health, nutrition, and more, so you don’t have to sort through the noise of bro science or weird fitfluencer content online. Taking care of your body is a big task in this crazy world; having a trainer means you don’t have to go it alone.
Outside the gym
I live in SE Portland. When I’m not training, I’m performing—improv comedy, musical theatre, musical improv, classical singing, you name it! When I’m not on the stage, I’m probably playing video games with my husband or walking our Chihuahuas.