When a flyer for a new weightlifting class went up at the Pearl Street Family YMCA, it showed a man deadlifting an enormous barbell. Coach Brad expected a mix of men and women on the first day. To his surprise, every participant was a woman.
“It just grew from there,” Brad says. “The most surprising thing was how much they appreciated each other’s effort. Watching them work and seeing the community they’ve built inspires me.”
For many of those women, walking into the weight room was a leap of courage. What started as Brad’s new class became, for them, a chance to face fears and try something new. Longtime Y member Connie admitted she had spent nearly three decades in classes like yoga and swimming but always avoided the free weights.
“I didn’t feel like I belonged there,” she says. “My son told me to try the Saturday weightlifting class. Now I know how to lift safely, what the etiquette is, and I’ve realized the people who look the scariest are often the nicest.”
Others came through a nudge from a friend or a physical therapist. One new mom recalled her first time back in the gym after giving birth: “The first time I walked into a regular weight room, I cried. Having someone tell me exactly what to do made it so much easier.”
A Class That Meets You Where You Are
Brad coaches with a balance of structure and flexibility. Every class includes a warmup, the main lifts like squat, deadlift, and bench, and accessory exercises. What sets his approach apart is the way he adapts each movement to fit a person’s body, experience level, and goals.
“He takes into account our body types, what’s safe for us, and where we are in our lifting,” Pinar says. “Even when he’s coaching someone else, we’re all learning.”
That individualized attention builds confidence. Kallie, one of the youngest members, now dreams of competing. “I’ve always been strong, but my weakest part was confidence. Brad’s helped me believe in myself. I can squat 250 pounds now.”
Stronger in More Ways Than One
The strength built in this class goes far beyond lifting weights. Members say they feel more confident, stand taller, and know they belong in the weight room. Just as important, they’ve built a community that shows up for one another.
When Connie had to step away for two months to care for her husband during a serious surgery, group members checked in often. “Coming back was emotional,” she says. “They welcomed me with open arms.”
Cheering each other on is part of the culture. Connie recalls watching a newcomer hit big numbers on only her second day of squatting. “It was so fun to see her enjoying her body and what it could do."
Although the group is mostly women, a man or two have joined along the way. Members agree the atmosphere has stayed the same, defined by respect, encouragement, and support.
An Invitation to Lift
If there’s one message this group wants to share, it’s that strength training is for everyone.
“If you have pain in your knees, back, or shoulders, come here,” Connie says. “You’ll learn to move in a way that relieves pain.”
Kallie adds, “It’s better than a mirror or a scale; this helps you feel at home in your body. It’s real medicine.”
Brad hopes their example inspires more women to give weightlifting a try, even through the Y's Kickstart program. “Respect, inclusion, generosity. That’s what makes life worthwhile. And you can find it right here, under the bar.”