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Coaching

Personal training

Our expert coaches are here to help you reach any fitness goal! Whether you're kick starting your fitness journey or in pursuit of developing elite powerlifting strength, we've got the tools and resources to help you get to your goals.

How it works

Training that fits you

Free movement screen and goal setting session

Start with a complimentary session to talk through your goals, experience level, and assess your current capabilities to determine the best way to meet your goals.

1-on-1 training

Private sessions built around your schedule, with programming tailored to your goals and movement needs.

Semi-private training

Train with a partner or small group for a more social experience while still getting hands-on coaching.

The team

Meet the coaches

Ricky Zheng

Head Personal Trainer

ACE Certified
B.S. Human Nutrition, UIC
Minor in Kinesiology

Strength training
Corrective exercise
Powerlifting coaching
Injury prevention

Ricky is certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) with over four years of personal training experience, working with clients from diverse age groups and backgrounds.

He builds personal plans around your goals, needs, and schedule with an emphasis on movement quality, injury prevention, and sustainable progress.

Ricky is avaialable for private 1-on-1 sessions and semi-private sessions.

Sydney Tennill

Personal Trainer

NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Strength training
Beginner-friendly coaching
Beginner powerlifting

Sydney combines corporate fitness experience with competitive powerlifting, bringing technical knowledge and a beginner-friendly approach to every session.

She centers training around what your body is capable of and making fitness accessible to each and every person.

Sydney is available for 1-on-1 or semi-private sessions.

Joey Ho

Personal Trainer

B.S. Exercise Science
NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Strength training
Sport performance
Goal-oriented coaching
Functional fitness

Joey has a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He has experience working with a wide range of individuals, from Division I athletes training to perform at the highest level to older adults focused on moving more efficiently and safely.

Joey believes strength training is for everyone, whether the goal is sport performance, weight loss, or improving quality of life. He takes a goal-oriented approach to fitness and believes clear, intentional goals are essential for making consistent progress.

Joey is available for private 1-on-1 sessions and semi-private sessions.

Anastasia Campbell

Personal Trainer

B.S. Exercise Science (in progress), DePaul University

Functional training
Strength building
Everyday performance

Anastasia has experience in personal, semi-private, and group training with people of all ages and experience levels from high school athletes to working adults.

She believes everyone is an athlete in their own way and focuses on helping clients move better and perform confidently in everyday life.

Anastasia is available for 1-on-1 and semi-private sessions.

Client spotlights

Real coaching, real progress

Client Spotlight

Ted

Hover to read Ted's storyTap to read Ted's story

Client Spotlight

Ted

Trained by Sydney Tennill

Ted had one goal when he first came to Catalyst: bench 315 lbs. He had been lifting in his garage for a while, but between the Chicago weather and a bench plateau, he decided it was time to get a trainer.

Ted began working with Sydney, his first ever personal trainer. He had never powerlifted before, so there was a lot to learn; form, rules, competition strategy, but Ted picked things up quickly.

Sydney was great at breaking down the details and tailoring his program to best suit his needs. A few blocks in, she noticed Ted was having difficulty gauging his own numbers and intensity, so she adjusted the program, which ended up taking him to another level.

He quickly surpassed his goal of benching 315 lbs, hitting the mark in about two months, and has since benched over 350 lbs. In just a few short weeks, Ted will step into his first powerlifting competition hosted here at Catalyst, on a journey to find out what he's truly capable of.

Client Spotlight

Jimmy

Hover to read Jimmy's storyTap to read Jimmy's story

Client Spotlight

Jimmy

Trained by Ricky Zheng

Jimmy came to Catalyst with a simple goal: get back in the gym and look and feel his best for his wedding. He hadn't trained consistently in a long time, had tried online coaching, and trained out of commercial gyms before but nothing ever truly stuck. He needed something sustainable, something that fit his busy schedule, and someone who would actually hold him accountable.

That's where Coach Ricky came in.

From day one, Ricky tailored Jimmy's program specifically around his lifestyle, not the other way around. With flexible scheduling, a plan built to lose weight while gaining functional strength, and a coach who genuinely cared about his progress. Jimmy was more prepared than ever and it showed. In just 3 months, Jimmy went from 168lbs down to 155lbs and stepped into his wedding day feeling exactly the way he'd hoped.

But the story doesn't stop at the wedding.

Jimmy fell in love with strength training and shifted his focus. Since starting to focus on strength, Jimmy has added 150lbs to his squat, 95lbs to his bench, and 175lbs to his deadlift. What started as a goal to lose weight has turned into a long term lifestyle and a love for getting stronger.

Another thing Jimmy keeps coming back to is the community. As someone who isn't a powerlifter surrounded by a lot of people who are, he never once felt out of place. Everyone has been welcoming, personable, and just genuinely fun to be around. In his own words, "It feels more like we're hanging out and having fun versus just putting headphones in and not talking to anyone."

That's the environment we've built here and Jimmy is just one example of what happens when the right person finds the right coach and the right community.

Client stories

What our clients say

“As a former NCAA DI athlete I felt that I had plateaued when it came to strength and conditioning. In looking for a personal trainer I wanted someone who could challenge and guide me through proper techniques in order to reach my goals. Ricky has done that and more.”
“During the first two weeks of training, Ricky helped me fix my back squat, deadlift, and bench form. Now, two months later, I have surpassed my previous PRs and have continued to build strength while improving my flexibility and overall fitness.”
“Ricky has also helped me train while coming back from a knee injury by incorporating exercises that complement my physical therapy. If you want to be challenged and make sure you're doing it right, Ricky is your guy!”
Melody
Trained by Ricky Zheng

“Sydney is the real deal. She's amazing at noticing where you can improve as well as listening to what your wants and needs are. She's knowledgeable, organized, and direct, which is important when your in the gym looking to improve on something. She's so thorough about presenting you with all the different paths you can travel within her program that you don't feel too locked into something that's not clicking for you.”
“I've improved drastically training with Sydney. Better form, higher weights and overall much better confidence in the gym even when im not training with her. Pure joy to work with!”
Aja
Trained by Sydney Tennill

“Working with Anastasia has been an amazing experience! I was nervous to start because I hadn't worked out in a long time, but she immediately made me feel welcome and comfortable. She is incredibly kind, motivating, and supportive, and she creates an environment that never feels intimidating.”
“She meets you where you are, encourages you every step of the way, and makes workouts both challenging and enjoyable. I've felt stronger, more confident, and genuinely look forward to our sessions. I highly recommend Anastasia to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, encouraging trainer who truly cares about her clients”
Katie
Trained by Anastasia Campbell

“I've been training with Ricky for the past 6 months and it's been an incredibly positive experience. From the start, he’s been highly adaptable to my evolving goals which initially focused on weight loss and later shifted toward strength training. I really appreciate his attention to detail during our personal training sessions, ensuring I stay focused and make progress safely. Beyond the sessions, he's also been consistently available and responsive throughout each training block, which has kept me accountable and motivated. His support has made a real difference in reinvigorating my fitness journey.”
Jimmy
Trained by Ricky Zheng

“Training with Ricky has been an awesome experience. I have a few chronic health conditions that for a long time left me thinking that I wouldn't be able to be an athletic (or even fit) person anymore, and just a few months of training with Ricky has changed my outlook completely. Both my strength and my stamina have increased way more than I expected, and I'm more pain-free and mobile than ever before. I feel like there's room for even more improvement--I may never be at competition level, but I've definitely gotten to really love lifting and want to pursue it more. All of that is because of Ricky's introducing me to the sport: he's extremely knowledgeable, patient, understanding, friendly, encouraging, and such a great teacher. I trust him as my trainer because time and again he helps me improve and progress safely. I look forward to continuing to train with him!”
Bekah
Trained by Ricky Zheng

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Free movement screen and goal setting session

We'll assess how you move, talk through your goals, and map out the best path forward.

No commitment required. No gimmicks. Just mapping the roadmap to your goals.