Your CrossFit Amethyst Team

Esther

she/they

manager / trainer / athlete

CF-L1 (CrossFit Level 1)
CF-L2 (CrossFit Level 2)
CrossFit Gymnastics
CrossFit Judges
P&PA (Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coaching) in progress

Paramount Weightlifting Clinic

Prior to CrossFit, Esther was a soccer player, runner, bodybuilder, & powerlifter. Originally from Idaho, she made her way over here (like many of us) on the Navy’s terms, in 2015. She quickly got settled at a local commercial gym, & continued with her fitness regimen, but over time wanted more. After discovering CrossFit, she tried it on her own, but thankfully was directed to CrossFit Amethyst by a friend in early 2017. Through the years she has developed as an athlete, & competes for fun, individually & on teams - including but not limited to qualifying for the 2021 Cascade Classic individual scaled division. With her passion for CrossFit, expertise in administrative work due to her previous occupation, & prominence in the CFA community, Esther was the perfect fit for running the gym after the prior owners sold the business to Tim in 2020.

“As a mom, CrossFit has given me the utmost of confidence in my capabilities & in my body - I'm faster, stronger, & fitter than I've ever been. I workout for many reasons, but one of my main reasons for awhile now has been to be strong & fit for my child - I want to be able to pick them up as long as I can, & to run/play with them for forever. I also love that I’m setting an example & raising them in this lifestyle.

CrossFit has been many things for me in different seasons of my life - it started out as & has been a really fun way to stay fit & healthy, then it became a sport which has scratched my competition itch, & it has done wonders for my mental health. Over time while being a member at CFA I used to wish that maybe one day I could step into a bigger role, so I went & got certified in hopes of becoming a trainer. Fast forward to mid-2020, & here we are.

There are so many things I love about CrossFit for myself...the community, the “runners’ high” after a workout, the feeling of a hard-earned new personal best, I could go on & on. Since becoming a trainer though, & now managing this gym, I have a whole new appreciation for what CrossFit is all about. It’s amazing being able to help & watch someone get stronger, mentally & physically, & achieve things they once were unable to do. Everything we do in here is functional for life outside of the gym; we all may have different goals, but my ultimate goal for everyone that comes here is to become/stay fit for life, & to avoid becoming decrepit.”

Michelle

she/her

trainer / athlete

CF-L1 (CrossFit Level 1)
CF-L2 (CrossFit Level 2)
CrossFit Scaling
Carl Paoli Gymnastics Seminar
judged at CrossFit Regionals in South Africa in 2011
competed at CrossFit Regionals in South Africa in 2012 (individual)
previously was a trainer at CrossFit Dublin (Ireland), CrossFit 110 (Chelmsford, MA), CrossFit Kingstowne (Alexandria, VA), North End CrossFit (VA Beach, VA), CrossFit Primal Empowerment (Tampa, FL)

CFA was going through our transfer of ownership & management right when Michelle came to us; we were looking to expand our team, she had just moved to the area (late 2020), & the timing could not have been any more perfect.

“Originally from South Africa, my CrossFit journey began in Cape Town at Cape CrossFit in 2011. Cape CrossFit was my first CrossFit family & their ethos, "doing all the right things, for all the right people, for all the right reasons” is something that deeply resonated with me & I try to live by daily. CrossFit inspired & empowered me to quit my desk job in Cape Town allowing me to follow my dreams of traveling the world & growing as an individual. I knew that no matter where I went I would always have a community of like-minded people at every box I dropped into along my travels. I happened to meet my husband while coaching at CrossFit Dublin in Ireland & I have made so many incredible friends at almost every box I have dropped into along the way.

Being an athlete inspires me to push harder, test my limits, & always strive to be better than yesterday. Being a coach inspires me to constantly pursue improvement as a person & a leader. It is a very humbling experience to be able to change a person’s life, sometimes in the smallest way like getting their first pull-up or helping to refine someone’s technique & watching them snatch the equivalent of a small house. Sometimes that change is even bigger like getting someone off 90% of their diabetic medication or helping to be a part of a life changing transformation in a person who never believed they could be capable of personal greatness.”

Dawn

she/her

yoga instructor / yogi

RYT-200 (Registered Yoga Teacher 200 Hour)
Yoga For Athletes 55 HR
Institute of Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

Dawn grew up NOT being athletic. She hated PE class and had a stint on the local swim team that was short lived. In college, she found that exercise helped her feel better, so she dabbled in basic weight training & spent lots of time on cardio machines while listening to burned CDs on her Discman and reading Cosmo.

In 2010, Dawn moved to Taiwan. It was there that she found a local yoga class & started taking classes regularly. When she started, she felt that she could never be "good" at yoga & identified as a non flexible, non-graceful attendee. With consistent practice, she learned that yoga helped her quiet the mind, improve posture/flexibility, enhance body awareness, & most of all, change her limiting beliefs about herself.

She decided to become a yoga teacher because she wanted to help others learn the same things. Dawn designs her classes with the needs of Crossfit athletes in mind, making sure there are plenty of props & modifications to make the classes accessible for everyone. The classes are programmed to address the specific needs of our clients - improving mobility in areas where Crossfit athletes need it most and strengthening underused stabilizers to prevent injuries.

If you don't think you could ever be good at yoga - she wants to teach you!

Laura

she/her

trainer / athlete

CF-OL1 (CrossFit Online Level 1)
qualified for the 2021, 2022, & 2023 CrossFit Quarterfinals.

Laura has been doing CrossFit since early 2016. She regularly competes, including but not limited to qualifying for the 2019 and 2021 Cascade Classic Individual Rx Division and competing in the 2021 Open quarterfinals . Growing up, she was very active playing travel soccer, basketball, & softball through high school. She then went on to play Division 1 soccer at Butler University in Indiana. When not coaching CrossFit, working out herself, or chasing a ball, she likes to snowboard, go on adventures with her husband and dog, Tikaani, or read any book, (but prefers fantasy). She’s a huge nerd & will talk all day about Harry Potter, LOTR, or Twilight. She works as a Navy civilian aerospace engineer, & is originally from Ellettsville, Indiana.

“When I first learned about CrossFit as my soccer career was ending, I didn’t think I would like it, because I don’t like to weightlift or fail. I gave it a try anyway & I haven’t looked back. This was the best next step in my fitness journey as at the time I had no fitness plan for when collegiate soccer ended. Through the 5 years of college soccer, I was plagued with major injuries resulting in one “red shirt” year & 4 knee surgeries. Everyone thought the best thing for me was to take a long break from soccer & “intense” working out. Instead, I started CrossFit, & it couldn’t have been a better decision. CrossFit allowed me to strengthen my knees & muscles in general & I haven’t had any major issues with my knees since starting CrossFit. I truly believe the CrossFit philosophy of “constantly varied, high-intensity functional movements” has greatly & positively impacted my overall health, especially after the stress of a collegiate sport.

CrossFit is a challenge & that’s what I love about it. There is always an aspect/movement/lift to improve no matter what level you are at. The fact that CrossFit is multi-functional & possible for anyone is a major reason I became a coach. Finding the right cue that helps an athlete achieve a goal or move efficiently in a lift, or seeing the movement “click” is what this sport is about. The greatest part about being a coach is hearing when athletes talk about how CrossFit movements have made “insert body part” feel better/stronger/less sore in day-to-day life.”

Morgan

she/her

nutrition coach / trainer / athlete

CF-L1 (CrossFit Level 1)
CF-L2 (CrossFit Level 2)
WAG Certified Nutrition Coach
PN1 (Precision Nutrition Level 1) in progress
CrossFit Judges
qualified for the 2022 CrossFit Quarterfinals

Morgan grew up as a dancer & soccer player who found a love for lifting heavy things after she joined the Navy in 2013. Mostly running & doing traditional “bodybuilding” movements, it wasn’t until 2016 (after being nagged by a friend) she stepped into the doors of CrossFit Amethyst. After her first 500m row for time, she found herself belly up on the ground, staring at the ceiling & wondering what she got herself into, but also craving more. Morgan obtained her CrossFit Level 1 Certification in 2018 & began coaching at CrossFit Amethyst in 2019. She took a break from coaching in 2020 to give birth to her baby boy.

After gaining over 60 pounds in college & struggling to lose that weight to join the Navy, Morgan has always had a complicated relationship with eating & fitness. After finding CrossFit, she also found the flexible dieting approach & has since fallen in love with nutrition. She is currently pursuing two nutrition certifications & hopes to be able to help others gain healthy relationships with food & exercise.

“When I started CrossFit in 2016, I remember being driven by the constant opportunity to learn a new movement or perfect it. I remember always loving it but some days thinking to myself “It’s okay I will just never get double-unders, or pull-ups, or handstand push-ups & it is what it is”, but I kept showing up for myself & putting in the work. Today, I can do all those things & more but there are so many movements I am still working on. & that is the beauty of CrossFit; it is constantly-varied, high-intensity, functional movement. It is infinitely scalable & prepares people to be fit for life, not just in the gym. CrossFit was there for me throughout my time in the military, throughout my pregnancy & early postpartum. It has prepared me for life.”

Amy

she/her

trainer / athlete

CF-L1 (CrossFit Level 1)
CF-L2 (CrossFit Level 2)
CrossFit Kids

"I started CrossFit in 2017 after becoming disenchanted with my running routine and feeling lost at my local gym. My husband Dalton suggested we try some CrossFit at home. We pulled up the Youtube and sorted through some videos. It happened to be early March and we stumbled across a Live Open event. After watching Mat Fraser, Cole Sager, and Scott Panchik throw down in 17.3 to a screaming crowd I looked at my husband and I said, “We gotta try this at a gym.” So we signed up at CrossFit Amethyst.

We were immediately hooked. I loved the community and atmosphere that is unique to CrossFit. Having each class led by a coach in a group setting made all the difference in my workouts. I couldn’t believe how much stronger and faster I became over time. The variety of workouts makes each day different and interesting. And because we track and retest our workouts it is easy and fun to see measurable results. I loved Crossfit so much that in 2018 I pursued my Level 1 and a CrossFit Kids certification to start a kids program. At that time I also began coaching the adults and have been coaching ever since.

In addition to CrossFit I love being with my family, cooking, playing board games, floral design, gardening, swimming, listening to audiobooks, and tent camping."

Jess

she/her

trainer / athlete

CF-L1 (CrossFit Level 1)
CrossFit Judges
qualified for the 2022 CrossFit Quarterfinals

Jess started her CrossFit journey in 2016 in Minnesota where she is from. Her journey was not very consistent at the start, but when she moved to Pensacola in 2017 she fell in love with it. She then started her coaching journey in 2021. Her degree is in Athletic Training which helped her have a sound base to begin coaching.

"Growing up I was always involved in different sports. I always loved the team mentality and community feel. My cousin had gotten into CrossFit while I was in college and raved about it. After I graduated I started going to her gym. I fell in love with the community. My favorite part to this day is the team aspect. I love meeting and working out with people from all walks of life and backgrounds. Each day I feel pushed to become better by the other athletes around me. I also love pushing those around me to become the best they can."

She is currently in the Navy working as a Naval Flight Officer flying with the Growlers. When she is not at the gym or working you can find her doing activities like mountain biking, hiking, really anything outside, or hanging out with her dogs. She qualified for the 2021 Cascade Classic individual Rx division.

Tim

he/him

owner / trainer / athlete

CF-L1 (CrossFit Level 1)
CF-L2 (CrossFit Level 2)
CrossFit Gymnastics
CrossFit Judges
Paramount Weightlifting Clinic
Burgener Strength Athlete Camp

bio coming soon

Joe

he/him

trainer / athlete

CF-OL1 (CrossFit Online Level 1)
CrossFit Spot The Flaw
CrossFit Scaling
NOFFS (Navy Operational Fitness & Fueling System)
Operational Series
Endurance Series
Sandbag Series

bio coming soon

Your CrossFit Amethyst Team

MY ACCOUNT