The Seacoast Strength Story
Seacoast Strength & Conditioning was founded with the mission to be a place where anyone can access elite fitness. Our unique approach to training sets us apart from any other Fitness Facility based in the New Hampshire area.
Before moving from Boston we asked ourselves how we could make smart and professional coach-led fitness more accessible and offer the benefits of Personal Training to more people while serving our community on the New Hampshire Seacoast.
We looked at the weaknesses of traditional training models and created a way to offer a premium training service with a better value. After opening in 2016 our unique approach to training took off and our facility grew from a modest 800sqft room to the 4,000sqft modern training facility it is today.
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Meet The Team
Josh Gould
Owner - CPT, CES, USAW
Josh is originally from Derry, NH and a graduate of Pinkerton Academy and The University of UMass-Lowell where he received his bachelor's degree in Clinical Health Sciences.
During his Junior year in college he relocated to Boston to expand his exposure in the fitness industry while finishing his degree. His 10 years training in Downtown Boston gained him experience in various sectors of the industry; from Corporate Fitness to Head Coaching Crossfits to privately training the city's Executives, Attorneys, Doctors and Professionals.
Josh was also invited to lecture at various Fitness Conferences both regionally and nationally to present on Personal Training topics. He is a 3 time Speaker at the IHRSA International Conference & Expo, the largest in the world.
After accumulating certifications and experience it was time to move back to NH and open up Seacoast Strength & Conditioning in 2016.
Certifications:
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Certified Personal Trainer - American College of Sports Medicine
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Corrective Exercise Specialist- National Academy of Sports Medicine
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Level 1 Coach -United States Weightlifting (USAW)
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Athlete Program Design - United States Weightlifting (USAW)
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FRC Mobility Specialist (FRCms)
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Certified Kinstretch Instructor
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K-Tape Certified
Ariel Wahl
Head Coach
Not an athlete in the traditional sense, but a lover of all movement, Ariel graduated with a degree in exercise science and health studies from Springfield college in 2015.
Classroom knowledge, working at the gym on campus, then teaching fitness at Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort gave Ariel the skills needed to land a job at Harvard Recreation where she worked from 2015 to 2022 as a fitness specialist, fitness manager, group exercise instructor, personal trainer, marketing coordinator and more!
During her time in the greater boston area, Ariel gained skills teaching and training clients from age 18-80 and teaching in various fitness formats from strength, to cycle, to yoga, to kettlebells, to pilates and so much more.
Ariel believes that movement is the key to happiness, longevity and pain-free living.
You can usually find Ariel on her bike, in the gym, or working her skills as a Licensed Massage Therapist!
Chris Lekkas
Coach
Christos graduated from Keene State College in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science.
Following graduation he completed an internship at Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning in Woburn, MA where he trained groups from athletes to general population. Chris also has prior experience as a Strength Coach with Northern Cyclones Jr. Hockey Club, Keene State College and Atlanta Braves minor league affiliates. He also works full-time at Project Walk in Stratham, NH training wheelchair bound individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neuromuscular disorders.
Chris is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and holds other certifications including Precision Nutrition as well as RockTape Myofascial Cupping, Graston & Taping. Outside of work he enjoys staying active by skiing , hiking and playing men’s league baseball.
Lesli Friel
Manager
Lesli graduated from The Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Marketing.
Immediately following graduation she was employed at Estee Lauder, Inc. as a Manager, Worldwide Product Development in New York. Following that, she relocated to New Hampshire and was at home raising her three girls. Lesli chose to reenter the workforce a few years ago as Assistant Manager at Athleta in Portsmouth, NH.
She was in that position for one year, before deciding to join the team at Seacoast Strength & Conditioning. She has been a member at SSC for over 6 years and is excited to take on a more official role and use her management skills to continue the development of Seacoast Strength in the next chapter and improve member experience and community outreach.
Kailey Gould
Coach
Kailey gained an interest in fitness at a young age. Growing up in Canada she played hockey, soccer and ran track, which led her to compete as a division 1 track athlete at the University of Vermont.
Kailey is a high school physical education teacher who also loves coaching MetEx classes at Seacoast Strength. In her spare time she loves to hike, snowshoe and travel in her family's truck camper with Josh, their daughter Lincoln, and their dogs Chip and Toque.
Her knowledge and interest in strength and conditioning started during her time as a collegiate athlete, and then continued while living in Boston. After working at various facilities in the Boston area, she moved to the Seacoast with her husband Josh, where he opened Seacoast Strength and Conditioning!