Polaris Strength & Conditioning

Congratulations to Coach Lychen for completing the NASM Certified Personal Trainer Certification!

This certification provides a comprehensive foundation in personal training, including the science of human movement, program design, nutrition, and behavior change coaching. The curriculum combines evidence-based principles with practical application, equipping trainers to assess clients, identify movement imbalances, and build individualized programs that deliver safe and effective results.

Through this certification, Lychen further expanded their ability to coach clients with greater structure, intention, and confidence.

Lychen’s continued investment in coaching education strengthens the support available to members. Their expanded knowledge base will help members move better, train smarter, and build a strong foundation for long-term progress.

🌈Our annual pride party is less than two weeks away!

This event is designed to be high-energy, inclusive, beginner-friendly, and fun for everyone. Whether you’re coming to work out, support friends, hang out afterward, or bring your family, we’d love to have you there.

A beautiful day at Polaris. New signage, sunshine, and members making the most of a sunnny Seattle day ☀️

This is what we love about our community. A workout doesn’t just happen within four walls. Sometimes you take your bike outside, enjoy the fresh air, and soak up a little extra sunshine.

Come by and check out the fresh look 👀

Starting June 21, we’re adding a second Strength Series at 10am on Sundays! Whether you’re an early riser or need a little more time to get moving, you’ve now got two back-to-back options to choose from.

Also headed up!
Starting June 20, the Sunday Mobility class is relocating to Saturdays at 11am and will still be led by Coach Lychen!

🏳‍🌈 Our Pride shirts are here! 🏳️‍🌈

A huge thank you to everyone who placed a preorder. Your shirts are ready for pickup in the office!

Missed the preorder? No worries, we still have shirts available for purchase. Stop by the office, grab your shirt, and fill out the order sheet while supplies last.

Show your pride, represent our community, and rock your new shirt around the gym and beyond! 💜🩵💛💚🧡❤️

✨Member Spotlight ✨
For this week in our member series, say hello to Seth! Here’s a little bit about him in his own words:

💪Describe yourself using one sentence:

I’m an old school Seattle guy and I love that my city is now drawing people from all over the world. We need you! Please stay! 

💪 How long have you been a member of Polaris?

Since 2023

💪If you could go back and tell your day-one Polaris self one thing what would it be?

Stick with it! Skinny, middle aged, programmers can learn to lift weights too! 

💪 What’s your favorite thing to eat in Seattle?

I love all kinds of restaurants but if I’m honest the place I go to most is Pink Bee here in Ballard. 

💪 What cool things have you used your fitness for outside the gym?

Eating more pizza than ever before

💪 If you could design your favorite workout what movements would it include?

They’re sort of goofy but I actually love Turkish Getups

⚡️New Cycle Alert: Summer Solstice⚡️

This 8 week cycle builds on foundational strength and shifts focus toward Olympic weightlifting development, classic benchmarks, and skill work.

In the first half of the cycle, we establish a strength base through the push press and back squat while developing cycling efficiency and consistency on the barbell with touch and go squat cleans. Rope climb progressions run alongside this phase, building the grip strength, pulling capacity, and technique needed to move confidently on the rope. Benchmark workouts including Helen, Open workout 24.2, and Nate will serve as reference points throughout.

The second half of the cycle transitions to heavier barbell work with bench press and front squat, while our weightlifting focus shifts to the split jerk and sn**ch. Single leg squat progressions replace the rope climb skill work, developing unilateral strength, balance, and body control. Benchmarks like Jackie, McGhee, and Elizabeth will test our conditioning fitness and give us data to track progress against.

In late June and early July, the Pride Partner WOD on Saturday 6/27 and a 4th of July Partner WOD join the performance benchmarks on the calendar, giving the community opportunities to come together.

This cycle is designed to develop well-rounded fitness, building strength across multiple planes, refining Olympic lifting mechanics, and improving cardiovascular endurance.

*Cycle Timeline*
Monday 6/8/2026 - Sunday 8/2/2026 (8 weeks)

Over the past month, our community took on the Mile-a-Day Challenge, committing to moving a little every single day. Whether it was a run, walk, jog, or treadmill mile squeezed into a busy schedule, the consistency and accountability from the community was awesome to see.

Huge shoutout to everyone who participated, checked in, encouraged others, and kept showing up!

Great work, everyone 👏

Bring a Friend Friday (BFF) – This Friday June 5
This Friday June 5, will be our monthly Bring a Friend Friday (BFF).

Bring a friend you’ve been wanting to introduce to the gym to come workout with you! The workout will be free and scalable so anyone can participate. We’ll be running the event all day during regularly scheduled classes.

Our BFF event will take place on the first Friday of every month!

Friends sign up in advance using our website!

✨Coach Spotlight ✨

Get to know our coaches, hear their insights, and learn what makes them such an important part of our community.

Meet Coach Orlie (they/she)! Here’s a little bit about them in their own words:

Hey y’all! I’m originally from NC & moved to WA during the summer of 2024. I’ve been drawn to weightlifting-style fitness since high school when I took my first weightlifting class to prepare for my military service, and I officially became a coach in 2023 as a part of a larger career/life transition.

I’m motivated to be a coach because I’m a huge anatomy nerd and wanted to solve my own mobility issues. Coaching others keeps me accountable to staying up to date with my knowledge and personal skills, plus I love helping folks have that ‘ah ha’ moment.

My ideal workouts include long grindy/chipper style workouts, but lately I’ve been working on my cardio endurance.

Outside of the gym I love being outdoors and trying new foods!

Certifications: CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

Visit https://plrs.fit/coaches to learn more about our wonderful coaches!