Hey Team,
To say we’ve been busy might be the biggest understatement of the year.
For the last six months, we’ve been on a mission to provide you with an entirely new app experience here at Bodybuilding.com. One that can serve as both a personal trainer in your pocket or a place to connect with likeminded individuals across the globe. In fact, one might say it’s the new kid on the block for fitness apps, and we can’t wait for you to meet it.
We’re gearing up for a post-holiday launch but would be remiss to not introduce the very faces you’ll be met with when it’s time to press play. A curated roster of coaches awaits to deliver you science-backed, heart pumping workouts geared at helping you reach your fitness goals. Without further ado, meet the Master Coaches.
Meet Coach Craig: Craig Bongelli, former professional Strongman, CPT, and Master Coach, leads by example. Coach Craig’s earliest athletic passion was boxing but delved into strength training when he met Scotland’s Strongest Man, Jamie Barr. After training for five years, Craig faced a catastrophic back injury that led to him joining Westside Barbell and mentoring with its founder, Louie Simmons. Later, when opening his first gym, Craig found himself in an unexpected situation that nearly took his life. Despite this setback, he went on to compete against podium finishers from The World’s Strongest Man. His direct, never-give-up mindset led Craig to become a professional Strongman, coach the fourth strongest woman in the world, and train Olympians, world record holders, and top professional athletes. The commonality of his clients remains the same: commitment. He won’t tolerate casual pursuits because Craig believes when you’re 100% committed, you’ll get the best results. Craig may be a Strongman in the four walls of a gym, but never passes up a night in with his daughters and cuddling his dog.
Meet Coach Kristen: Kristen Lettenberger, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master Coach, is the supportive trainer you didn’t know you needed. She’ll inspire you to work and never lets a small win go unnoticed. Whether you’re new to working out or an experienced athlete, Coach Kristen meets you where you are and scales your training accordingly. Her approach to working out goes beyond getting fit. Kristen helps her clients improve their overall health and performance to live better, longer. Her motto, “movement is medicine,” was inspired by her passion for physical therapy and fitness, and derived from her background in powerlifting, athletics, and working in rehab settings. She advocates for optimal pelvic floor health in both men and women because the pelvic floor is the base of your core—coordinating your systems and increasing athleticism. Kristen specializes in women’s health, including pregnancy and postpartum, helping women adapt their bodies to accommodate their new normal. When she’s not being a real-life superhero, Kristen enjoys playing music and leaning into being a new mom.
Meet Coach Ken: Ken Yu, CPT and Master Coach, brings energy that doesn't overshadow his educational guidance—working out with him is like working out with your lifting buddy. Focused on functional movements with ultimate results, Coach Ken empowers you to use your body and improve your life. He believes fitness is more than a hobby: a lifestyle that comes with infinite rewards. Using strength movements to increase the ability to complete everyday tasks for the long game is of the utmost priority. Before fitness, Ken worked in the corporate world as an attorney. A natural athlete who enjoys playing sports, he joined a functional fitness gym and fell in love, sparking his journey as a fitness coach. Now, finding himself fittest at 40, Ken encourages mental resilience training in his sessions—encouraging you to step out of your comfort zone and push yourself to new limits, no matter how old you are. Outside of the gym, Ken is a bookworm, consuming nearly 300 novels a year, and is an exceptional cat dad.
Meet Coach Yaya: Yadira “Yaya” Vargas, CPT and Master Coach, empowers you to find the intentionality behind your movement. Bringing her innate sense of helpfulness to coaching, she encourages the freedom and power to move in a way that suits your daily mood but grounded intention. Known to be adaptable, Yaya says that fitness should feel good—not serve as a punishment. Her nonlinear journey into fitness started with a humanitarian career. Traveling to disaster-stricken areas to offer aid, Yaya found herself helping others while enjoying the physical requirements of the gig. Returning home during the global pandemic, she knew something was missing: movement. Today, the missing piece is now her day-to-day. When she’s not focusing on fitness, Yaya loves to hike, create art, and cook meals for her family and dog.
Meet Coach Gabe: Gabe Snow, CPT and Master Coach, looks at fitness like recess for adults. Approaching training through sustainability and exploration, Coach Gabe maximizes efficiency in movement, allowing you to rediscover your body’s power. Recognizing that not everyone wants the same thing from working out—Gabe helps you focus on appreciating your body, making new memories, and creating authentic experiences. He also brings a level of understanding and education to his training sessions—you’ll work hard, have fun, but discover the “why” behind the movement. As a former collegiate athlete, Gabe understands the correlation of proper maintenance of the human body and the mind. Holding a psychology degree with an emphasis in neuroscience, Gabe will challenge you to imagine your future self and then train to transform. His success is proof of the process. Overcoming many injuries and battling bouts of body dysmorphia, he turned to look introspectively at his body’s purpose. Gabe realized fitness empowered him to use his body how he saw fit. The results helped him transform, leading to a vibrant and longstanding career helping people discover their power in the gym.
Meet Coach Harry: Harry Vargas, CPT and Master Coach, pushes the limits in and out of the gym. Injecting creative movements into his programming, his tough love and no-nonsense approach challenges you to work hard while having fun in the process. An avid marathon runner (3:15 in the 2024 NYC Marathon! 🤯), Harry specializes in training for endurance, hybrid and body recomp. He believes every goal can be accomplished— with a good coach, a consistent program, and the willingness to push past discomfort. Whether you’re new to the gym, want to get shredded, or hit the pavement for your first run, Coach Harry’s got your back.
Biased as we may be, each of these coaches has a deep understanding of what’s required to create real change. We can’t wait for you to tap into a workout with them in just a few months.
Look out for more as we inch closer to the release of Bodybuilding.com’s fitness app.
Until next week. 👋
