Eric Fry
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla has a very balanced coaching style. Her warmups are relevant to the workout or strength piece. During the strength portion of the workout she checks in, often providing useful tips to help improve form. During a metcon she is supportive and gives simple ques to help correct mistakes in form but not in an overwhelming way. Kayla helped me improve in my form significantly. She was also very attentive to my needs. For example, I have very limited mobility and try to do my GoWOD protocols every day. She would always remember stuff like that and check in to see how I was doing. I also struggled with the wall walk portion of the 2023 open because of my mobility. She jumped in and wanted to help me improve on them during open gym sessions, creating a specific metcon that could help me work on them. Mobility is a long process but I am confident that next open I will do much better on wall walks if they show up partially because of Kayla. My favorite thing about her classes was her positive attitude and how friendly she is. She does a great job making everyone feel welcome and giving each member a great experience. I recommend working with Kayla. She is an amazing coach and an even better person. Something I will never forget about Kayla is when she left our gym to go traveling and spend time with family she wrote personalized cards for all the members and other coaches. These weren’t just simple thank you cards but handwritten front and back of the cards. This shows her character and I still have the note to us hanging in our house. Overall being coached and knowing Kayla has been great. I have worked out with her a few times and will continue to visit, or potentially join, if she starts coaching again at a gym.”
Sarah Gerspacher
CrossFit Athlete & PT
“Kayla’s coaching style is positive, encouraging, and supportive. She is able to easily connect with athletes across all ages and skill levels, and truly cares about their personal goals. It is easy to see how passionate she is about using her knowledge, training, and experience to help others grow and succeed in their fitness journey. I had no idea what to expect the first time I set foot in a CrossFit gym. I met Coach Kayla at my first ever CrossFit class and she asked me about what I was hoping to get out of CrossFit style workouts. I had made the personal goal to be able to do 1 pull up. She coached me through my first workout ever and while it was challenging, her teaching skills made it easy for me to learn the movements needed for the class. I joined the CrossFit gym that day and made sure to show up to the open gym days to work on my goal of completing a pull up. After Kayla learned about my goal, she programmed a specific workout for me each week to help achieve this goal and after a few months I was able to do a pull up…a little while later and I could do 4! She recognized my progress along the way and helped me to learn new skills and techniques that I never thought would be possible. I did not see myself as strong enough or fit enough to be able to do some of the more gymnastic based moves in CrossFit. Thanks to her encouragement, patience, and coaching, I now get regular compliments on my form and technique for these skills when I go to other gyms. Coach Kayla has not only helped me to improve my strength and physical fitness but has helped me learn how to push and believe in myself in ways I would not have tried if she didn’t see the potential in me and offer me the chance to step out of my comfort zone and give it a try. My favorite thing about Kayla’s CrossFit classes is how much she cares about each person in every class. Whether there are 2 people or 10 people in a class she makes sure everyone is engaged, ready to participate, has the appropriate modifications and movements that are best for them, and is so encouraging. Even in a class of people with varying experience and skill levels, she is able to challenge every athlete to get those most out of the workout and do their personal best. When I was first started CrossFit and was learning the movements and it was intimidating to watch others who could lift more weight or make it look so easy. Kayla helped me to focus on pushing my own personal skills and to be a little better every week. I would absolutely recommend Coach Kayla to others. I have watched her coach beginners (like myself when we first met) as well as experienced athletes and help each one of them to progress and reach their goals. She excels at meeting somebody where they are at, helping them determine their own personal goals, and then coaching them down the path to achieving those goals.”
Daniel Cortez
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla was easily my favorite coach that I’ve worked with. She’s able to be everything you need during a workout. Kayla begins by being a warm, welcoming, and friendly person before a warmup, always with a smile to greet you. But, once the workout begins, she takes command! She is able to give strong, descriptive guidance about movements, then hone in on specific fixes to your technique. I’ve been doing deadlifts for years, but Kayla was still able to provide specific feedback about my lat engagement throughout the lift. Most importantly, Kayla exudes the confidence you want from a coach during a workout; you know she’s pushing you to bring your best, but will never, ever compromise technique or risk of injury for an extra lb or rep. Kayla coached me for a period of six months. Over that time, I learned new complex movements including variants of Cleans and Power Cleans, Snatches, and Overhead Squats. I went from learning how to clean a bar, to being able to clean 135 lbs fairly consistently. In addition, I dropped ~20 lbs during that period. My favorite thing about Kayla’s classes was her ability to balance being a warm, friendly, and cheerful person, while still being in command of a workout and pushing people to bring their best. I never felt at risk when she coached, knowing she was pushing me to be my best, in a safe and injury free manner. Nobody has replaced her as my favorite coach; I would swap gyms if she returned to the area I live. She can pinpoint technique issues, provide fixes, and help you to be your best. For me, the most important thing is she knew exactly when to push a person and when to pull back, and when to just be there a give a confirming nod that you are doing great.”
Maya Kordahi
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla’s coaching can be best described as exceptional, inspiring, and transformative. She brings a unique combination of expertise, genuine care, and motivational skills to help her clients achieve remarkable results. Thanks to coach Kayla, I have experienced a significant improvement in my strength, endurance, and overall fitness level. Kayla also helped my daughter in creating a personalized core workouts during open gym. Kayla has been a true mentor and role model, and I am immensely grateful for her guidance and support. Coach Kayla’s exceptional communication skills ensure that I understand the exercises and techniques correctly. She takes the time to explain and demonstrate each movement, paying attention to proper form and execution. Her ability to provide constructive feedback and valuable insights helps me continually improve and avoid injury. I wholeheartedly recommend working with Coach Kayla to anyone looking to embark on a fitness journey or take their current fitness level to new heights. Her expertise, genuine care, and commitment to her clients’ success make her an outstanding coach.”
Xun Cui
CrossFit Athlete
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share my thoughts on Coach Kayla’s coaching. Kayla is an exceptional coach whose dedication and professionalism have greatly impacted my life. Her coaching style is both inclusive and adaptive, enabling me to work at my own pace while continuously pushing my boundaries. She possesses a profound understanding of physical health and fitness, which she adeptly combines with a focus on mental well-being. Kayla’s coaching has made a significant difference in my life. As someone who was initially skeptical about the transformative power of fitness, I’m grateful to say that Kayla has changed my perspective completely. She helped me set concrete goals for both my physical and mental health. These were not just about losing weight or building muscle, but also about reducing stress, improving sleep, and building mental resilience. Her sessions have become an integral part of my lifestyle, providing me with the structure and support to achieve these goals. One of my favorite aspects of Kayla’s classes is her emphasis on creating a positive, supportive, and energetic environment. It’s not just about the physical workout but about feeling better as a whole. This atmosphere, coupled with Kayla’s personal encouragement and belief in my potential, has boosted my confidence and motivation to keep striving for better health. Without hesitation, I would highly recommend working with Coach Kayla to others. The depth of her knowledge, her personalized approach, and her genuine care for her clients’ well-being are unparalleled. If you’re looking for someone who can truly guide you on a holistic journey towards better health, then Kayla is the coach to turn to. In conclusion, Kayla’s coaching is more than just a fitness program – it’s a lifestyle change, a shift in mindset, and a journey towards better physical and mental health. I’m grateful to be part of the journey.”
Matt Reeves
CrossFit L2 Trainer & Athlete
“Kayla is a strong communicator with an interest in making each person in class a little better each day. Her cues are always on point and are not overwhelming or difficult to implement. I can honestly say each one of her classes are fun, motivating and welcoming. Last year I had back surgery. Kayla really helped me stay safe and still encouraged me to do my best during recovery. She was always ready to modify things or provide some sort of useful activity during my recovery. I think my favorite thing about Kayla’s classes is how welcome and special you feel when you walk in the door. She knows everyone’s name; she knows how to make even the toughest workouts fun and she cares so much about the people she coaches. I absolutely would recommend working with Coach Kayla. As a coach, for your business or anything in life. She is someone that is always going to be positive, make a difference and is just someone that you always want in your corner. Kayla is a L2-trainer, so she is very knowledgeable in CF methodology, but I think when you talk about what makes a CF coach great it really doesn’t have a ton to do with certifications. It has to do with caring, making a positive impact on each person that you coach and being an inspiring figure to help people be the best versions of themselves. Not just in the gym but outside in everyday life. Kayla is all of those things and you’ll be very glad you brought her onto your team.”
Rachel Northquist
CrossFit Athlete
“I respond really well to Kayla’s brand of coaching! She listens and guides. She encourages me to push myself but also understands my physical limitations and helps me find ways to work hard. She also created a community even just within each session where we all felt safe and seen and encouraged. She sees us all as individual athletes rather than just the 7pm class she has to get through. I worked with Kayla on a number of personal goals and even though we are not actively working on this together I still hear her voice in my head and practice some of the tips and tricks she gave me to keep working on getting enough sleep, drinking water, and eating vegetables. Oh and she started a Ladies Power Hour that my teen daughter and I regularly attended. It was a safe and positive environment for us to practice power lifting. It was awesome! I really appreciate that she treated us as individual athletes and was able to quickly assess the needs of the people in her classes. She is always very positive and also realistic. I never felt like I was an imposition in a class where others were stronger or more capable. Yes, I recommend working with Coach Kayla! If the answers above aren’t enough, well, my teen daughter and I would follow her to another location if we could keep working out with her. Kayla is the best! I’ll fight anyone who disagrees”.
Mike Baginski
Physical Therapist & CrossFit L2 Trainer
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kayla over the last few years and she is my go-to coach when referring clients. As a physical therapist, I have many clients who are ready to start training but they need that additional support when working around an injury. It doesn’t matter if they’re recovering from a sprain or surgery, I know Kayla will keep them safe and help achieve their goals. Kayla goes out of her way when designing individual programming and the results are evident. I’ve seen her help clients achieve goals they themselves didn’t think would be possible. Everything from their first pull-up, bodyweight deadlift or just being able to gain the confidence to move well and be healthy. If you’re in need of a trainer or you’re struggling to meet your fitness goals, reach out to Kayla first!”
Tori Massey
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla’s coaching style is encouraging and constructive. She will push you and cheer you along but will pause along the way and assist with form and technique. She tailors her guidance based on the individual and will meet you where you are at. Kayla has impacted my life by making some of the more daunting Olympic lifts achievable. She specifically helped me a great deal with cleans. I was new to CrossFit and she explained and demonstrated the various movements associated with a clean in a way that made sense to me and greatly helped me improve. Additionally, I expressed to Kayla that it is my goal to get an unassisted pull-up and she gave me various movements to perform to strengthen the major muscles used in pull-ups. I still am working my way to a pull-up, but continue to work on the movements she provided! My favorite thing about Kayla’s classes was her continuous positive attitude. She always made me feel welcome and empowered. I would absolutely recommend working with Kayla. She is extremely knowledgeable and encouraging. She might tell you to throw more weight on the barbell, but you will thank her later when you are incredibly proud of yourself!”
Bre Shepherd
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla is an encouraging, direct, and patient coach. She values proper movement over heavy weight to ensure athletes don’t get hurt while they train. She continues to learn and grow her skill, giving me the confidence she’s becoming a better coach every day. I have a pre-CrossFit injury in my right shoulder that affects a lot of overhead movements. Coach Kayla is great at recognizing the limitations and offering modifications so I could continue safely developing skills and growing in my fitness. I’m still working on building overhead strength, but I feel more confident in how to make it happen and I’m closer to meeting my goals. I appreciate how Coach Kayla balances being fun and conversational while taking full control of the class. She’s always available when I have a question about a movement or programming, and her encouragement during a workout helps push me to perform better. I absolutely recommend working with Coach Kayla. She is a confident, knowledgeable coach who will safely help you improve your fitness in a fun and meaningful way”.
Oliver Meier
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla’s coaching is upbeat and constructive. There’s always the right amount of recommendations to consider based on how you’re feeling/performing on a given day (e.g. some days you’re in a better headspace than others to try something or take feedback.) Kayla’s coaching has helped me work on my ability to focus/tune out distractions keeping me from the task/goal at hand. This is useful both in Crossfit and day to day life. My favorite thing about Kayla’s classes is the positive energy. I have the benefit of having a variety of coaches and gyms to start getting a feel for what styles & techniques work best for me. As noted in the first response, Kayla exudes positivity which helps instill motivation and confidence. I would definitely recommend Kayla. As a newer CrossFit person (~2.5 years of experience), I’m still learning how to push myself into the zone as well as refining my technique. These challenges can hold me back at times through a combination of frustration or lack of confidence. Kayla’s coaching style & the fun she brings to it helps me push that little bit further in the WOD”.
Ethan Reiniger
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla cares deeply about the fitness goals of her clients, first and foremost, and this is clearly evident in how she approaches her coaching. Kayla does not grade her clients on an absolute scale but focuses on an individual’s progress along their own fitness journey. Her commitment to her clients’ goals is encouraging and motivating. Kayla is incredibly approachable. While bringing vast training experience, Kayla does not intimidate those new to the gym experience or physical training overall. She is not intimating or judgmental, no matters an individual’s fitness level. She is encouraging and brings out the best in people. Whether you’re an avid gym enthusiast or someone just getting into physical training, Kayla will be a fantastic resource and motivator on your fitness journey. 100% recommend”.
Brittany Van Hal
CrossFit Athlete & PT
“Kayla is a skilled, personable, and patient coach. She truly cares about each athlete and their needs, and personalizes her coaching to fit their specific needs. I have been a grateful recipient of her coaching, but also recommend patients to her. She is upbeat, knowledgeable, and skilled, and consistently works to learn and grow”.
Jim Shepherd
Physical Therapist & CrossFit L2 Trainer
“If you are looking for a no nonsense approach with a coach that has a broad understanding of how to meet you right were you are at with your physical ability, then look no further. Kayla will come along side you, encourage you, and keep you injury free on your road to reaching your goals. She brings a fun energy and unique effectiveness to her coaching and has the unique ability to motivate you in a supportive manner without the typical “main stream” fitness coaching nonsense. Being a coach myself, I have pretty high standards and expectations and Kayla gets 5 stars from me!”
Jeffery Scott
CrossFit Athlete & PT
“I had the pleasure of working with Kayla as a CrossFit coach for 3 years at Conflux CrossFit. I always enjoyed going to classes that Kayla taught because she was knowledgeable, fun, and good at modifying when needed. Kayla always approached each member with respect and met each athlete where they were at that each day to help them meet their potential. As a physical therapist I trust her with my own fitness as well as my patients fitness”.
Emilio Guerra
CrossFit L2 Trainer
“I have had the pleasure of coaching alongside Kayla for close to 3 years. She’s a confident and empathetic coach that truly cares about the members in her community. I have seen her spend many extra hours with members after classes helping and connecting with them to understand them better. Kayla inspires me daily with her desire to always want to be learning and growing in an area she is passionate about. Any organization would truly be better with her on their team!”
Divya G.
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla is a very personable and compassionate coach. She is extremely intuitive and understands that fitness needs are different based on each individual. She is supportive and encouraging, but ensuring she is pushing me towards my goals and out of my comfort zone. I was in a delicate phase post-partum, Kayla made a tremendous impact by her habits program which I still continue to follow. I would recommend Kayla to anyone who is looking for holistic fitness and wellness. My favorite thing about Kayla was her energy and positive smile while working out. I was able to improve my eating habits and stay consistent with my goals everyday due to her accountability.”
Wendy Kenyon
CrossFit Athlete
“Kayla is absolutely one of the best coaches I ever had! She’s focused, thorough, inclusive with people on all levels, encouraging and cheering! She’s also really humble, working with her feels uplifting! She is great at fostering community culture as inclusive, friendly, supportive! And she’s an advocate for empowering girls! I was able to achieve my new PR on deadlift, I became more interested in working out and weight lifting in general. Love her smile & positivity, her class is very structured! She gives me great attention and supports such as correcting me and motivating me. I absolutely love her Saturday morning class and girl power class, which makes CrossFit less intimidating for girls who don’t have a ton of fitness experience but would like to challenge ourselves. Yes, I recommend Kayla. I believe Kayla will try her best to achieve goals in partnership with others”.
Tina Yordanova
Athlete
I can’t express enough how incredibly fortunate I feel to have worked with Coach Kayla. Working with her has been an absolute game-changer for me, both physically and mentally. From the moment I started training with Coach Kayla, I knew I was in good hands. She possesses a level of expertise that is truly unmatched. She has an extraordinary depth of knowledge in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness and overall wellness, and it’s evident in every session.
What sets Kayla apart is her unparalleled ability to personalize every aspect of my training program. She took the time to understand my goals, limitations, and preferences, and crafted a plan that was tailor-made for me. But beyond the workouts and meal plans, she has been an incredible source of motivation and support. Kayla has a gift for pushing me just the right amount, always knowing when to challenge me and when to offer encouragement.
In short, Kayla is more than just a coach – she is a mentor, a motivator, and a true friend. She has not only helped me become stronger and healthier but has also enriched my life in ways I never imagined. (I still cook my food daily and don’t rely on frozen food anymore!!)
If you’re looking for a training coach who will not only help you reach your goals but also inspire you to become the best version of yourself, look no further!!
Benson's Lifestyle 