Seattle Strength & Performance - Phinney Ridge

Member Appreciation: Israel Plascencia 💛

Israel is one of those people who has become such an important part of our Phinney Ridge community that SSP just wouldn’t feel quite the same without him.

Even when he isn’t coming in for a session, there’s a good chance we’ll see Israel randomly pop in while he’s walking or biking by. Sometimes he’s stopping in to say hi, sometimes he’s making us laugh, and sometimes he’s showing up with a treat for the coaches. Whatever the reason, we’re always happy to see him!

Israel perfectly embodies Core Value #2: Community is Everything. He brings an incredible sense of camaraderie to the gym and has a way of making everyone around him feel like a friend.

He is also widely known around SSP for his very specific approach to training: he’ll have us write down his weights and reps, we’ll tell him exactly what to do... and then he proceeds to do WAY more than we wrote down anyway 😂. At this point, we’ve learned to just roll with it.

But beyond the jokes and the extra reps, Israel has made some serious progress. He’s gotten stronger, stays committed to his training, and trusts our coaches to help him adjust when something doesn’t feel right.

Here’s what Israel had to say about SSP:

“What I like about SSP is the coaches and the community around it. I really like how the coaches are thoughtful when you have muscle pain and how they help you with a personalized workout routine. I also really like the people here and the community that SSP has built. I definitely got stronger since I started here, and I’m excited to keep getting stronger and making progress.”

Israel, we love having you around. Thank you for the laughs, the treats, the unexpected pop ins, &the camaraderie. and for always bringing your personality into the gym. You are truly a key part of our Phinney Ridge community, and we appreciate you more than you know! 💛

I mean, to us they kinda all sound like reasons to join, don’t you think? 🤔

But seriously, SSP is like no gym you’ve ever been into - I can promise you that. Coaches who are not only incredibly qualified but who care, programming that’s fully personalized to you, a community of humans who are the best around to support you, and strength results that consistently deliver.

Ready to join us? Book an assessment to come see the gym, meet a coach, and see if SSP is the right fit! 🫶🏻

Sure, we could tell you why training at SSP is the best thing ever? But why not hear it straight from the words of our amazing members!

If you’ve been waiting to get started on your strength training journey, we’d love to meet you!

July Member Appreciation: Natalie G💛

Natalie is the kind of person who makes every session better. She brings an awesome attitude, celebrates everyone around her, and somehow makes even the toughest workouts more fun. Whether she’s cheering on a PR, laughing through a brutal set of rear foot elevated split squats with the Friday morning crew, or crushing another lift herself, Natalie is someone we’re always excited to have in the gym.

She perfectly embodies Core Value #2: Community is Everything. Natalie not only pushes herself to become stronger every week, but she’s constantly encouraging those around her to do the same. The support she brings to our Phinney Ridge community doesn’t go unnoticed.

Here’s what Natalie had to say about SSP:

I’ve always been fairly active, but I had never really strength trained before, especially not in a regimented way. The trainers at SSP made learning how to lift approachable, ensuring form is correct before going heavy and eventually going heavier than I ever thought I could!

SSP makes training fun and brain-free. For one hour, I get to show up and follow orders. No decision fatigue! I don’t have to think about what I’m going to do or what I will have time for. The hard part is done for me. I get to show up and enjoy the thrill of the lift!

Small group sizes make it easy to try something new and know I’ll get guidance when I need it. Everyone is super supportive. I love cheering for people lifting their PRs and commiserating with the team about our least favorite moves (the Friday morning crew is side-eyeing the rear-foot-elevated split squat).

If you told me last year that I would be deadlifting a PR of 285 lbs in 2026, I would have said, ‘Is that any good?’ 😂 I was a complete novice one year ago. Before I started at SSP, I had never even touched a dumbbell over 30 lbs, and most commonly used 10 lbs or bodyweight only. Barbell? Never met her. Now, I’m confident in the moves I can do and the weights I can handle, some higher than I ever thought I’d reach. The things that intimidated me the most before I started at SSP are now things I do every week and I enjoy them!

I have much more confidence at the gym, but also in

June Member Appreciation: Amy G 💛

Amy is the perfect example of Core Value #5: People are capable of much more than they think they are.

Just this week, Amy shared a story with us from her trip to Iceland that perfectly sums up what the last year has been all about. She found herself standing at the top of a long, steep staircase leading down to a waterfall. She wasn’t sure she could do it. Then she stopped and thought, “If I don’t do this, then what has all this training been for?”

She did it, and afterward realized that every step up she’d been doing at SSP had prepared her for that moment. The only thing standing in her way was the belief that she couldn’t.

Reading that email reminded us why we do what we do. Sometimes the biggest strength we build isn’t physical. It’s the confidence to trust ourselves.

➡️

Here’s what Amy had to say:

“I love SSP. I’m approaching my one year anniversary and I’m so proud of what I’ve gained in strength over the past year. When I started looking for a gym, I wanted somewhere that would be accepting of all abilities and would help me develop functional strength and mobility. From my first assessment at SSP through the past year, I’ve never felt judged by my starting point or the levels I’ve been at for building muscle. The coaches have been supportive and so incredibly knowledgeable. I would have never made this progress on my own.

My recurring thought of this past year was being proud that I kept showing up for myself. I’m so proud of what my body can do now and it’s been so encouraging to see my progression. One of my aha moments was when I realized I was lifting heavier than the amount of weight I had lost prior to joining SSP (95 lbs). It was an emotional moment to see how far I had come. I can’t wait to see where I am in another year!!”

Amy’s quote and the story she shared from her trip to Iceland genuinely meant a lot to us. It’s moments like these that remind us why we love coaching (and yes, a few tears were shed).

Amy, thank you for reminding all of us what can happen when we keep showing up for ourselves. We are so proud of you, and we can’t wait to see what year two has in store. ❤️

Our favorite thing is hearing our members stories through Google Reviews🥹🫶🏻

Member Appreciation: Kevin D💪

Kevin has been part of the SSP community for three years, He truly represents Core Value #3: Moving Better = Feeling Better, showing how consistent strength training can positively impact not only physical health, but overall quality of life.

Here’s what Kevin had to say about his experience at SSP:

“I’ve been a member of SSP for three years, and it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience. The personal trainers have played a huge role in helping me fight back from some health challenges and rebuild my strength and confidence, always bringing a high level of knowledge, encouragement, and consistency. I’ve seen steady, meaningful progress over time, and it’s clear they’re genuinely invested in helping each member succeed.

What keeps me coming back is the combination of expert coaching and the overall atmosphere of the gym. SSP stands out as a supportive, judgment-free space with a really friendly atmosphere that makes it a great place to train and stay consistent. The trainers do a great job of meeting you where you are and adapting workouts to fit your needs, which has made all the difference for me. It’s a place where you can focus on getting better, feel supported along the way, and actually enjoy the process.”

From Coach Taylor:

I’ve had the privilege of training Kevin for the past two years, and seeing his consistent progress has been so rewarding. Kevin shows up ready to work, trusts the process, and continues to get stronger and more confident with every phase of training. His journey is such a great example of what can happen when you stay consistent and prioritize your health over the long term.

We’re so grateful to have you as part of the SSP community, Kevin. Keep crushing it 💪✨