The guy behind

21st Street Fitness

Why I do this work and how we can help you feel at home in your body.

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A bit about me

I grew up in Northern Virginia kicking soccer balls around, which probably explains why I'm obsessed with how bodies move. Born in D.C. in '92, and I've been fascinated by movement ever since I could walk.


How I got into this

Started training people back in 2011, and let me tell you, I've worked everywhere. Big chain gyms, tiny studios, people's basements. Each place taught me something different about what people actually need from fitness.

What really gets me excited? Working with folks who want to understand their bodies better, not just beat them into submission. If you show up with a good attitude and you're willing to try, we're going to get along great.


My whole philosophy in a nutshell

Here's what I've figured out over the years: when you actually connect with your body instead of fighting it, everything changes. You feel more grounded, more present. Less like you're dragging this meat suit around and more like you're actually living in it.


That's why I started 21st Street Fitness. I wanted a place where someone could walk in with cerebral palsy or missing a limb or autism or diabetes and not feel like the odd one out. Because honestly, we're all dealing with something.

Who I work with and how we do it

Real people with real challenges, training in a way that actually makes sense.

The people I work with

I've trained people with pretty much everything you can think of. Amputees who want to get back to hiking. Kids with Down syndrome who just want to feel strong. People with MS who are tired of doctors telling them what they can't do.


Some of the conditions I've worked with:


  • Amputations (arms, legs, sometimes both)
  • Autism spectrum stuff
  • Down syndrome
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities
  • Motor skill challenges
  • Tourette's
  • ADHD
  • Diabetes (both types), heart disease, obesity
  • Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and MS

How I actually train people

I'm big on what we call General Physical Preparedness. Sounds fancy, but it just means we work on everything: strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, coordination. Your body's like a team, and every player needs to do their job. After we get that foundation solid, then we can talk about specific goals or work around whatever limitations you're dealing with. But first things first, let's get you moving better overall.


Here's the thing most trainers get wrong: they want to jump straight to the complicated stuff. But if you can't squat down to pick something up off the floor without your knees screaming, why are we worried about how much you can bench press? I start with movement quality, not movement quantity. Can you get up from a chair without using your hands? Can you reach overhead without your back arching? These might sound simple, but they're the building blocks everything else sits on.


The goal isn't to make you into a different person. It's to make you a better version of yourself.


The Space

21st Street Fitness sits right on 21st Street in Purcellville, and honestly, it's nothing fancy. That's kind of the point.


I wanted to create a space that felt more like someone's really well-equipped garage than an intimidating gym. It's intimate - we're talking about room for maybe 4-5 people max at any time. No rows of treadmills, no mirrors everywhere making you self-conscious, no loud music pumping unless that's what you want.


The equipment is solid but not flashy. We've got what we need to get you stronger and moving better, but nothing that screams "look how serious and hardcore this place is." Because honestly, the best training happens when you're not worried about looking the part.