YOUR COACHES

Eamon Coyne

Co-Founder
Director of Operations
Coach

I started incorporating functional fitness into my regular weight training for the military, and eventually turning to it as the only training method I follow. I am constantly amazed by this community and its ability to bond people from different walks of life together to sweat it out, work hard, and take their fitness into their own hands and improve their lives. The biggest payoff for me as a coach is to see athletes setting, striving for, and achieving their goals. I love what I do and I love that I get to make a positive impact on people every day.

I believe that by coaching with empathy and compassion I can help anyone, regardless of improve their quality of life through hard work, desire for improvement, and a supportive community. Whether the athlete is a college football player or an 80-year-old grandmother, functional fitness can be adapted to help them move safer and more efficiently. Once this base of essential movement patterns has been established our athletes add the factor of increasing intensity to improve their abilities further.

Military Service

• US Navy (2004-2008)
• Information Systems Techician, Second Class (AW)
• Shipboard Deployments aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (2005/2007)
• Land-based combat deployments to Iraq (2006) and Afghanistan (2007-2008)

Tim Paulson

Co-Founder
Business Director
Head Coach

I truly believe that functional fitness, when done appropriately, is the best fitness regimen on the planet. It combines functional movements with a community atmosphere that helps individuals to not only reach new peaks of fitness, but also to stay committed with the positivity and support around them. With so many movements to explore and master, my work is never done; so there is always a new unicorn to chase.

Eamon introduced me to functional fitness while we were working with Ithaca College’s hockey team. I had already fallen in love with inspiring and teaching others, but functional fitness presented a new medium for which my passion quickly grew. functional fitness through certifications, opening Pallas Fitness, and helping others discover and develop their love for the practice has been so rewarding. I love watching our athletes progress from the first time they walk through our doors—being there to see movements ‘click’ for them and to share in their successes. Perhaps best of all is getting to see how their newly developed abilities in the gym affect their lives outside of the gym.

Janessa Ciaschi

General Manager
BIRTHFIT Regional Director
Coach

I joined Pallas Fitness as a member after already doing functional fitness for a time. I got hooked by meeting the incredible coaches (turned friends) at Pallas, checking out the facility, and studying the programming. As a trained teacher, I appreciated that the coaches were self-motivated to constantly improve their own practice and pursuit of knowledge, both inside and outside of the gym.

This inspired me to begin my own journey as a coach in 2015 Since then, I’ve become a USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach and the BIRTHFIT Regional Director for BIRTHFIT Ithaca, working with women and families during the motherhood transition.

My fitness journey began when my oldest child was 2 years old. While I was certainly looking to get more fit and follow a healthier lifestyle, what I needed the most at that point in my life was a circle of support, something I felt I was really lacking as a new mom and a graduate student. Through the seasons of life, loss, and love, I found and continue to feel, that support at Pallas Fitness.

The women, men, and families that make up this community are simply incredible. We are a team who will simultaneously challenge and encourage anyone who walks through the front doors. Whatever the story, everyone belongs here. This is why I coach and this is why I practice functional fitness.

Darrin Gardner

Coach

I’ve always sought the positive team environment and motivational atmosphere that athletics offers. The excitement of training and competition have consumed my life since high school. In college I pursued a career in soccer and basketball only to have it terminated by a career ending injury. This unwelcome change left me lost—like a fish out of water. I needed something new to motivate me.

Upon being introduced to functional fitness, I knew I had found my new focus and I was hooked instantly. As a strength and conditioning coach and full time Exercise Science graduate student I saw great potential in functional fitness. Pallas Fitness embodies all the positive features that functional fitness has to offer. It has become a headquarters for teamwork and inspiration for me and many others in this community. I am proud to be a part of this team and hope to help provide others find what Pallas Fitness has given me.

Jana Leyden

Coach

After my first year at Pallas Fitness, Eamon encouraged me to start coaching. I had coached middle school and high school teams, which I enjoyed immensely, so I figured I’d love coaching here as well. Coaching at Pallas Fitness has given me a chance to get to know the sport better and connect with athletes on a different level.

My favorite part about coaching is seeing the dedication that our members have to the sport and their fitness. I’m constantly inspired by the professionals, business owners, college students and the moms and dads who workout every day they can. These are the everyday heroes who come to the gym before the sun comes up or after a long day at work and push themselves to be better.

Andy Lonsky

Coach

Growing up, team sports such as football and baseball afforded me friendship, team bonding, and a sense of community. Wrestling allowed me to gain self-confidence, independence, and a sense of self-awareness. I continued my athletics into high school where I competed in football and track, while working with athletic trainers to fine tune my performance. Playing for the Bombers at Ithaca College showed me new aspects of what it means to be an athlete—the challenges of being a student athlete, facing physical and mental roadblocks, and learning the importance of responsibility and self-accountability.

I started practicing functional fitness after two years of post-college football because it provided an outlet for competition. Functional fitness is a physical and mental challenge, is individually rewarding, and offers a great deal of variety from day to day. I find the community aspect of training and coaching at Pallas Fitness especially amazing and I’m excited to share my passion with our members.

Lex Santi

Coach
Yoga Instructor

Coach, yogi, international traveler, tri-linguist, dual masters degree holder, author, and owner of the sweetest yoga-mutt summed up in a three letter word: Lex. I started practicing functional fitness in 2013 in the midst of personal turmoil and found that what could not be worked out with yoga could be worked out with a WOD or a proficient lift. I believe the balance between these two forces: the “yang” of functional fitness and the “yin” of a calm yoga practice could be a new religion, or at least keep your demon's away.

Sue Dozoretz

Coach

Coaching at Pallas Fitness means that I get to work with a team of superheroes and a phenomenal community of athletes. Dream job! As a coach, I get to learn everyday from the amazing fitness community and help athletes discover that they are stronger than they think they are. It’s such a privilege to see our athletes break through barriers, learn new skills, and put in consistent work day in and day out.

I started praciticing functional fitness in 2012. I had been an athlete my whole life, but never picked up a barbell or been shown what to do with one. I walked into Pallas Fitness and never looked back! At the time, I was looking for something to do during my off-season from women’s flat track roller derby that would increase my strength and help me stay injury free. That off-season training turned into a year-round pursuit. I loved how functional fitness helped me to become a better athlete and how Pallas Fitness’s community helped to feed the fitness!

Jenn Lovell

Coach

I was drawn to movement through dance in my early childhood. After choosing to pursue dance full time in college, I moved to NYC for the performing opportunities, culture, and adventure. Since waiting tables was physically exhausting when combined with dance training and performing, I branched out and went to school for a summer at NYU to obtain my Personal Training Certification. This experience opened the door to many other modalities of study and training for human movement. I went on to earn certifications in Fitness Coaching, Restorative and Traditional Yoga, Pilates, and Reiki Energy Healing. This path has afforded me the ability to work closely with individuals and groups, incorporating a holistic view of health and fitness. In training and teaching, I try to meet someone where they are at on a given day, and work from there to find the best way to approach challenges and obstacles. This is truly my life’s passion and absolutely my favorite part of being a coach at Pallas Fitness.

Lauree Myler

Coach

Tim Scheftic

Coach

Laura Hayduchok

Coach

Until I graduated in 2013, I had always been involved in team sports. Suddenly, I found myself in a very sedentary desk job with no exercise built into my daily schedule. I tried to develop a consistent gym or running routine, but found I was in desperate need of an outlet that combined the physical, mental, and social aspects of team sports.

Through the encouragement of some friends, I found myself at ‘Bring a Friend’ day at Pallas Fitness. The next week I was through Foundations and starting my first class. In addition to making fitness a regular part of my life again, Pallas quickly became the place where I could leave everything at the door and take an hour of “me” time. Like many, I came for the fitness and stayed for the community.

After work, my favorite part of the day is coming to the gym to work out and coach. I love to see athletes repeatedly step up to challenges and find the strength to push through. Continuing to tackle a goal after failure and finally succeed develops that incredible grit in an individual.