Transformations

1. Where were you prior to working with Wes? Physically, mentally, emotionally,
etc.? What brought you to Wes? Basically, what was the need?

 

Prior to working with Wes, I had spent several years training at a box gym that
only had Smith machines. I wanted to transition back to a gym with proper
equipment—squat racks, bench press, and deadlifting—but I knew I needed to
improve, and in some ways relearn, those core lifts. That’s what brought me to
Wes: I specifically asked for a trainer who could focus on those three skills.
At 50 years old, I’d consider myself an intermediate lifter. I’ve been lifting on and
off since college and have always found my way back to it. I also worked briefly
with another weightlifting trainer about ten years ago, but I was looking for more
structured guidance to safely and effectively rebuild my foundation.

2. What was the experience of working with Wes like? What did I experience during
sessions, etc.?
During each session, he provided clear, detailed instruction for each lift and
helped me understand not just how to perform them, but why certain movements
mattered. One major focus was strengthening my posterior chain, which had
been underdeveloped from years of training primarily on a Smith machine. Wes
explained how addressing this imbalance was essential for building the
accessory muscle strength required for the squat, bench press, and deadlift.
As I continued working with him, I quickly gained confidence in his expertise and
coaching. That trust led us to expand beyond individual sessions and add
structured programming to the original plan. Wes developed a program that
complemented and incorporated the three main lifts I was focused on, giving my
training more direction, purpose, and consistency.

3. What did you gain form the experience of working with Wes? Where are you at
now?
Short version:
Working with Wes dramatically improved both my lifting and even
improved my mindset and reminded me I have the power to decide how
I’m going to show up for life. From a technical standpoint, he helped me

rebuild my lifting foundation—proper shoulder positioning for pressing,
addressing a left rotator cuff issue with targeted warm-ups, learning to
hinge correctly for squats and deadlifts, and understanding how lat
engagement carries over across lifts. Even small details, like improving
glute activation in Bulgarian split squats, made a big difference.
Beyond technique, Wes is a true motivator. He consistently pushes me to
get more out of each session—one more rep, one more set—while
reminding me that “pain is just data” and that we’re pushing through it
together. He sees the challenges in the gym as a reflection of life itself,
and his coaching naturally carries over into a growth-oriented, positive
mindset. Wes has become not just my trainer, but someone I trust and a
meaningful influence on my life as both an athlete and a person.

Long version:
This is a difficult question to answer succinctly because I gained so much
from working with Wes. From a technical standpoint, my understanding of
lifting improved dramatically. I learned proper shoulder positioning for
different pressing movements, including how and where to pinch the
shoulders, and how to strengthen my left rotator cuff with specific
exercises Wes prescribed based on my symptoms. Those exercises are
now a permanent part of my warm-up.
I learned to squat and deadlift by properly hinging at the hips and
maintaining a strong lower-back arch. I learned how to engage my
lats—pulling them down and back—before movements like lat pulldowns,
and how that same engagement carries over to the bench press and
rowing. Even in single-leg work, like the Bulgarian split squat, Wes taught
me how to start with weight through the heel and then transition to the big
toe to improve glute activation. I could go on and on.
What I gained beyond lifting technique is something I did not expect to
gain and may be even more important. Wes is a true motivator. I get more
out of my workouts with him than I ever could on my own—drop sets,
pushing for one more rep, and learning to push through through
discomfort. He has said, “Pain is just data. Ignore it. Keep going. I’m here.
I won’t let you fail. We’re doing this together.”
Wes views the struggle in the gym as a metaphor for life—pushing through
hard things to improve ourselves. His coaching naturally extends beyond
lifting, offering a positive, growth-oriented perspective on life. A conversation about improving a squat can easily turn into a book
recommendation or a new way of thinking. Wes has become not just my
trainer, but a trusted influence who has helped me continue to grow as
both an athlete and a person.

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~Azlynn

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about improving a squat can easily turn into a book, recommendation or a new

way of thinking. Wes has become not just my trainer, but a trusted influence who

has helped me continue to grow as both an athlete and a person.