Trainers
Discover the unparalleled advantages of having a CrossFit-certified coach by your side at AR Strength. With their in-depth knowledge of CrossFit methodologies and training techniques, they provide personalized guidance and support tailored to your unique goals and abilities.
A CrossFit-certified coach brings a wealth of benefits to your training experience. They will:
Ensure Proper Technique: Our coaches prioritize safety and proper form, helping you perform movements with precision and efficiency. Their keen eye and expert guidance minimize the risk of injury while maximizing results.
Tailor Workouts to Your Needs: CrossFit-certified coaches have the skills to adapt workouts and scaling options to your current fitness level, ensuring that you are consistently challenged while progressing at a pace that suits you best.
Provide Accountability and Motivation: A coach's unwavering support and encouragement can make all the difference in staying committed and achieving your goals. They are there to push you beyond your limits, helping you overcome obstacles and maintain consistency.
Offer Individualized Programming: Our certified coaches can design personalized training programs that align with your specific goals, whether you're aiming to improve strength, enhance endurance, or conquer a particular skill.
Foster a Community Environment: Our coaches cultivate a supportive and inclusive community where camaraderie flourishes. They foster connections among members, creating an environment where everyone feels motivated, encouraged, and inspired to push themselves further.
By choosing a CrossFit-certified coach, you embark on a transformative fitness journey guided by a dedicated professional. Elevate your training experience, surpass your limits, and unlock your true potential with the expertise and guidance of our exceptional coaches at AR Strength.
Ian Finestein, NASM-PES, CF-L2, USAW-L2
Specializations
CrossFit
Weightlifting
Gymnastics
Aerobic Capacity
Ian is certified as a personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist. He attended Temple University, where he earned his degree in Biology. Shortly after, he obtained his training certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Throughout his career, Ian has been involved in various fitness projects in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.
One notable project Ian contributed to was the initiation of a health and wellness program for a local hospital. He conducted health screenings and led weekly fitness classes for the hospital's employees, promoting their well-being and vitality.
More recently, Ian has served as a trainer at Lafayette College and has taken on the role of founder, manager, and owner at CrossFit AR Strength in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Through his diverse experiences and dedication to fitness, Ian brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coaching at CrossFit AR Strength.
Lauren Falgout, CF-L1
Lauren has a bunch of degrees in the field of psychology from PSU, USC and Walden University. Her dissertation and PhD focused on the effects of CrossFit and exercise on motivation, mental health and quality of life. Lauren loves to share her knowledge and presents research at sports psychology conferences across the US.
Lauren spent the majority of her life running track, doing marathons, and engaging in fitness through a variety of different avenues since she was young. In 2017 she dropped into a local box in Pittsburgh and never left the sport. CrossFits community, competitiveness, and overall atmosphere had her hooked. In 2020 she received her L1 and has been coaching, dancing between sets, asking a million questions, and annoying clients at AR ever since.
Outside the box you can find Lauren chasing her daughter and spending time with her husband- shout out to Jer and Riley.
Chris McCaslin, CF-L1, USAW-L1
“THE OLY COACH”
Chris was born and raised in the DC suburbs of MD. Growing up he was an active participant in many youth sports and was a dual sport high school athlete, playing varsity baseball and wrestling for three years. He went to the University of Maryland for college where he attained a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. What a nerd. The toll of engineering school was the loss of the active lifestyle which had been the foundation of his life from before he could remember through his final season of high school sports. He gained some (lets be honest, quite a bit of) weight, and then decided he needed to do something about it.
It all started with Starting Strength. A book by Mark Ripetoe, which describes a foundational strength program. In the program, power cleans are described and included in the programming. Chris tried as he might to teach himself to power clean but it just didn't make sense to him. He made a fateful decision to visit a local olympic lifting gym (Central Maryland Gold in Frederick, MD) where he was living at the time and was quickly sucked into the lifts. Snatching, cleaning, jerking, it all made so much sense to him with lots and lots of practice and some much more fit friends to keep him humble.
Chris moved to the region in 2014 for a new job. One of his coworkers suggested he try out her gym, a crossfit gym, and it was like coming home. The lifts that he had learned to love so much in his adulthood and the competitiveness he so cherished and missed from his childhood/teenage sports. It was only a short time before he became a coach, to teach the oly lifts to the masses.
Favorite WOD: The Seven
Jess Gaal, CSCS, CF-L2, USAW-L1
Specializations
CrossFit
Weightlifting
Gymnastics
Jess graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Kinesiology. With over 15 years of experience in the fitness industry, she has worked with clients of all ages and abilities and finds great satisfaction in seeing them achieve their goals.
Jess found her love of CrossFit almost instantly, embracing everything from wallballs to pull-ups. She credits the awesome coaches that fueled her passion for CrossFit and competition...without their dedication to coaching the outcome may have been different. Jess enjoys healthy eating and experimenting with new Paleo recipes (and feeding samples to anyone willing to try!)
Emily Behnke, CF-L1, USAW-L1
Emily graduated from Grove City College with a BS in mechanical engineering and then from Wheaton College with an MA in Missional Church Movements. She worked as an engineer for 10 years before transitioning to work for Bethel Church as the director of outreach and adult ministries.
After graduating college, Emily participated in long distance cycling before trying out CrossFit in 2017. Self labeled "non athletic" she quickly fell in love with weightlifting and the accomplishment of learning new skills. Crossfit has encouraged Emily to take on any challenge that comes her way whether that be competing in triathlons, completing a Half IronMan and perhaps the scariest- playing in a charity softball game! In 2022, she got her CF-L1 and USAW-L1. Her favorite part of coaching is seeing athletes achieve a new skill and break their own previous records.
Favorite WOD: Isabel
Dani Harris, CF-L1, NCTMB, AAAI-ISMA
Specializations
CrossFit
Massage Therapy
Personal Training
Dani dual-majored in biology and biochemistry at Kutztown University before deciding to pursue her true love of helping athletes of all levels get back to their A-game. For the past 9 years, she has been getting people back to doing what they love through Massage Lehigh Valley and realized that the mechanical foundation from massage therapy translated perfectly to the mechanical application of personal training. Watching someone take their own life back through fitness is such an AWESOME gift! As someone who has been involved in athletics since a very young age, Dani sees the dramatic effect caused by the cross-training aspect of CrossFit and its potential to help lessen injuries by strengthening the whole body instead of sport-specific parts.
Ariel Bonilla, CF-L1
Ariel graduated from Wilkes University with a BA in Marketing and a Minor in Sports Management. He played baseball in high school and college.
Ariel found CrossFit after graduating from college and fell in love with it because of the similarities he felt when he was playing baseball. The competitive atmosphere between everyone but at the same time everyone being supportive of each other as well, similar to a team sport atmosphere. Which lead him to pursue his CF-L1 in 2022
CrossFit has helped him not only mentally as an outlet, but also in other aspects of life from the functional fitness aspect translating to tri-athalons, and sports outside of the gym like soccer and baseball!
Favorite WOD: Almost anything with an Echo Bike.
Paul Derlunas, CF-L1
Specializations
CrossFit
CrossFit Kids
Hailing originally from the “Coal Region” Paul is the resident supplier of caffeinated beverages, cringe worthy Dad jokes, and sometimes the occasional coaching cue.
Paul started his CrossFit journey back in 2018 on a recommendation from a friend. After passing out cold from the assault bike and vomiting to an unconscious state, he was hooked! Shortly after drinking the CrossFit magic elixir, he got his CF-L1 and his Kids CrossFit certification. Being your shaman on your path to physical fitness is his mission and scaling to your abilities while pushing you past your comfort zone safely is his goal.
When not turning the lights on at the gym at 4am, Paul is usually found serving the community as a funeral director. He is the owner of Allentown Funeral and Cremation and Lamar Christ Funeral Home. Instead of sleeping, Paul is constantly woken up by his three kids and one fur baby. His wife Laura is an active member of the evening crew at AR.
Favorite WOD: “it’s all stupid!” But anything with Toes to Bar and Rope Climbs
Desiree McCaslin, DPT, CF-L1
“Miss Gymnasty”
Desiree graduated from Ursinus College with a BS in exercise and sports science and then received her doctorate in physical therapy from Arcadia University. She has worked as a physical therapist for Novacare Rehabilitation since 2006 with a focus on outpatient orthopedics.
Desiree participated in competitive gymnastics for 17 years, from the age of 4 all the way through the collegiate level at Ursinus. She then continued to participate in the sport as a coach at the Hatboro YMCA for 12 years. After years of trying to find a replacement for her love of gymnastics, Desiree finally came across CrossFit. She received a Groupon from a friend to join a CrossFit box. She quickly fell in love with the high intensity and competitiveness of CrossFit which reminded her of her gymnastic days. In 2015, she became a CF-L1 trainer and now teaches the CrossFit gymnastics class.
Favorite WOD: Diane