Why Strength?
“Strength” and more specifically, “strength training” can take on different meanings for different people. Over 15 years ago many trainers were primarily using machines to build strength, focusing on individual muscle. Most clients working with these often misguided trainers, focused on building beach muscles or burning fat. Injury prevention, functional strength, and sports specific training were almost unheard of in those days.
Specific tools like medicine balls, bodyweight, and kettlebells were considered less effective, old fashioned methods to use if someone was not fortunate to have access to machine systems, like Nautilus. In recent years however, there has been an explosion of information from fitness experts, gym trainers and competitors on the benefits of “old school” strength training, and there has been an influx in acceptance and education on these methods. It seems now everyone is strength training or doing some form of resistance training. Magazines regularly publish articles on strength training, functional strength, and mobility for all populations.
The benefits are abundant, the information plentiful, but the misconceptions are widespread.
The problem is that many trainers do not know the fundamental principles of breathing, muscle tension, program design, proper technique or how to progress someone to truly develop their potential strength, so they do not ever get to appreciate the true benefits of being strong in a functional way.
Numerous studies have proven the benefits of strength training and how this translates into measurable health effects including: increased bone density, lower blood pressure, and decreased stress. Strength training for women has also taken off, and for good reason. Women respond just as well to strength training or even better than men in many cases.
At Empowered Strength we believe that the best tools to build your strength and health include kettlebells, your own bodyweight, and a carefully selected mix of other strength training practices that will maximize your results.
Meet Our Coaching Team
John Odden
While you may know me as a Scottish Highland Games athlete, stone lifter, or strength coach. I started out as a tall, skinny, awkward kid who always lacked confidence, especially in the gym. After begging my parents to get some home equipment, I got my first set of plastic-covered cement weights from Target when I was 12.
Somehow my fascination with improving my health, fitness, and athleticism turned into a persistent passion. Unfortunately, some misguided enthusiasm resulted in chronic back and shoulder injuries that sidelined my athletic career and limited my quality of life well into my 30s.
So, I dove into my quest to learn as much as possible about the body with the help of mentors, tireless self study, constant personal practice, certifications, and a degree in Exercise Science along the way. Unknowingly, these injuries and setbacks would turn into what fuels me in teaching others to live an empowered, pain-free, active life. I love sharing the strength and movement principles that I have created and honed in my 20+ year career.
If you can relate, we should talk.
Kelly Thiel
Growing up in rural Georgia, Kelly spent a lot of her childhood outside, riding horses and playing with chickens. When she wasn’t on the farm, she was involved in an intensive dance program for many years, where she first learned to move with intention and strength. A family move to Virginia took her into other competitive sports, like track and field, gymnastics and cheerleading. Kelly felt a natural pull to cheerleading in college, which led to many competitions, travel to Germany for performances, and most notably, an increase in knowledge about fitness. Working at a strength gym during those college years, Kelly began a lifelong relationship with strength, health and movement.
Fast forward a few years, and two children came along. Feeling frustrated after two c-sections, and a serious loss of strength, Kelly began training with a Strongfirst trainer in Charleston, South Carolina. He introduced her to kettlebells and lifestyle changes that helped her to recover from her pregnancies. As her strength returned, her eyes began to open to these things called “kettlebells” and how powerful a tool they could be! She continued training with him until a move to Oregon in 2014.
Once in Oregon, Kelly sought another Strongfirst trainer, this time, with John Odden of Bend, Oregon. John has helped Kelly truly find her strength, and has coached her through three intense certifications with Strongfirst. Now John and Kelly both compete in the Scottish Highland Games, and are currently training for their first Strongman competition in 2021. When they aren’t training, Kelly and John can be found playing with Athena (their pitbull), snowboarding or paddling on the river in the warmer months.
