“CrossFit is a gateway to an elite level of fitness for all individuals regardless of background and genetic standing. As the Staff of CrossFit Metropolis, our goal is simple: to facilitate a world class CrossFit experience and build a safe and enjoyable community of kind, hard working souls.”
The Metropolis Staff (bios below):
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- Brendan Gilliam
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- Eric Love
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- Allison Bishop
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- EJ Baril
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- Dave Lederman
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- Lauren Emerson
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- Ashleigh L’Heureux Robert
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- Eric Salvador
Head Trainer:
Brendan Gilliam is co-head trainer at CrossFit Metropolis. Brendan has been living and breathing CrossFit since its inception, training directly with Greg Glassman at the original CrossFit box in Santa Clara CA in the mid-2000′s before becoming part of the CrossFit HQ staff and Certification Staff. Brendan has since opened and successfully operated 2 affiliates in CA and in VA and brings years of CrossFit coaching experience and incredible passion for all things CrossFit to Metropolis. There are very few coaches that can trace their experience directly to Greg Glassman and the original CrossFit in Santa Cruz and Brendan is one of them. If you don’t find yourself fired up about CrossFit after a conversation with Brendan, you should consider making sure you still have a pulse!
Head Trainer:
Eric Love is the founder and co-head trainer of CrossFit Metropolis. Eric holds a Level 1 CrossFit Certification, Coaches Prep Course, CrossFit Olympic Lifting Certification, CrossFit Gymnastics Certification and CrossFit Powerlifting Certification (w Louie Simmons).
Head Trainer: “AllisonNYC” (Allison Bishop)
Born and raised in NYC, I discovered CrossFit in 2007. Before then, I was out of shape and could barely run for the bus without being hauled off in an ambulance. Needless to say, the physical, emotional and mental benefits that I’ve experienced since then have changed every aspect of my life. My goal is to pay forward what has been gifted to me by all of the amazing coaches that have guided me along the way. Everyone deserves the health and confidence that comes from Training Hard and Having Fun!
Since 2007 I’ve traveled the country training with some of the most respected Coaches in the fitness community, have been a member of and worked in CrossFit gyms around the country and have owned and operated a CrossFit gym for three years before coming to CrossFit Metropolis. I’ve done several workshops and Certifications, but it’s been the long lasting personal relationships with people like Greg Glassman, Brendan Gilliam, Joe Triolo and Aimee Anaya Everett that have had the most profound impact on my own training and my coaching style. I don’t know where I would be without any of them!
I love working with talented athletes and taking them from good to great. It’s awesome to watch everyone get stronger and develop the confidence and technical proficiency that CrossFit and Olympic Lifting requires. But more than anything, I love seeing people go through a complete lifestyle change.. coming into the gym barely being able to squat or do a pull-up and over time, through hard work and dedication, becoming strong, powerful and capable. I feel like it’s a real honor to play a part in that kind of transformation. And for all of those reasons and more, I feel like I’m the luckiest girl in the whole world!
Some of the training courses I’ve done are as follows:
CrossFit Level 1 Certs (like 20 times)
CrossFit Gymnastics Cert
CrossFit Running & Endurance (4 Times)
CrossFit Barbell Cert (with Mark Rippetoe back in the day)
CrossFit Kettlebell Cert (Twice)
CrossFit Kids Cert (Twice)
Coaches Prep Course
CrossFit Football Cert
CrossFit Olympic Lifting Cert with Mike Burgener (3 Times)
Kettlebell Seminar with Steve Cotter
Strength & Conditioning Workshop with Chad Waterbury, Alwyn Cosgrove & Pavel
PDR Workshops with Tony Blauer (Twice.. and where I met the Love of my life, Brendan Gilliam)
Endless Hours in the gym training with Joe Triolo
Owned and operated CrossFit Obsession in Virginia Beach for three years with Brendan Gilliam
Competed at Nationals and other Olympic Lifting meets
CrossFit Metropolis is the tightest group of hard working, dedicated, positive, warm, encouraging people I’ve ever experienced. We are all lucky to have found it!! Thank you for letting me be a part of your training!
Train Hard, Have Fun!
Operations/Community Development/Coach:
EJ “EZ Money” Baril is a Level 1 CrossFit Certified Trainer and globo gym reformed group fitness instructor. She has completed 5 half-marathons and 3 tri-athalons, including the NYC Tri. After five years working as a health and wellness manager at a non-profit, she decided it was time to really focus on her passion and her love for her community at CrossFit Metropolis. “There’s nothing more rewarding then being able to connect with our athletes, seeing them progress, and watching their full potential unfold in front of your eyes. CrossFit has dramatically changed the way I perceive fitness, my life, and my relationships, and has been such a positive catalyst in pushing me beyond what I thought was possible.” In addition to her level one cert, EJ is Mobility/Movement Certified and CrossFit Gymnastics Certified.
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Assistant Coaches:
Lauren “Gym Belle” Emerson is a CrossFit Level 1 Certified Trainer. She has many diverse interests; when not working out or coaching, Lauren enjoys writing about CrossFit. Both her pre-CrossFit fitness adventures and her CrossFit journey are well documented at Gympressions, where she has blogged since 2009. Lauren has completed the New York City Marathon, the NYC Half, the Brooklyn Half, the Newport Half, the Philly Half, the Vienna Half and the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and continues to compete in races and other events. Around the box, Lauren is known as L-Star, Lolo, Long Story Lauren, and Gym Belle. She firmly believes that you can do much more than you think you can, and dreams of a world where all women do pull-ups. In addition to her Level 1 Cert, Lauren is Mobility/Movement Certified, USAW Certified , CrossFit Gymnastics Certified, and has completed the CrossFit Endurance Trainer Course.
David “Oceanspray” Lederman is a CrossFit Level I Certified Trainer. After working on his bicep curls and not getting any fitter at his neighborhood globo gym, he tried CrossFit and has been hooked ever since. When he is not pulling all nighters working on Wall Street, you can find him around the gym practicing handstands or trying to squat multiples of his body weight. He competes in half marathons, adventure races, throwdowns, and other physically demanding competitions in the NYC area. David is a graduate of Cornell University and has lived in New York city for the last 5 years.
Ashleigh “Smilin’ Assassin” L’Heureux is a Level 1 and CrossFit Kids Certified Trainer. After a year of Zumba classes and silly workouts on an elliptical machine, Ashleigh decided to take her fitness more seriously. She was drawn to CrossFit because she knew it would pull her out of her comfort zone, and it most certainly did –”I remember when I used to be afraid to drop the barbell!” This seemingly insignificant choice of giving CrossFit a shot has transformed the way she sees herself and the role fitness has in a well-balanced life. Every day she goes to CrossFit she is still surprised by what she does and all that she has accomplished. Ashleigh also teaches first and second grade at a school for children with special needs on the Upper West Side. She is so excited to bring her knowledge and experience in working with children to CF Metropolis and beginning their first CrossFit Kids program. She is looking forward to merging her love for teaching children with her love for CrossFit and bridging the gap between fitness and fun!
Eric “Eroc” Salvador is a CrossFit Level I Certified Trainer. After serving his country as one of the few, the proud, Eric S. found his love for fitness and became a personal trainer. He’s been training on the Upper East Side for the last 10 years and has established a large clientele that are all starting to follow him to CF Metropolis. Eric has participated in the NYC marathon and NYC Triathlon. He truly loves to coach, motivate and is passionate about helping others reach their goals. When he’s not playing rugby with his son Isaiah or practicing gymnastics with his daughter Sammie, you can bet he’ll be there pushing you to the very last rep. In addition to his Level 1 Cert, Eric is certified in CrossFit Gymnastics, USAW, Kettlebell Concepts, NSCA, NASM – certified personal trainer, and has completed the CrossFit Endurance Trainer Course.
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