Meet Our Coaches
Stephen Gilbey
Stephen is a Staff Coach for Barbell Logic Online Coaching and Head coach at Norwich Strength Training, based in Norwich, UK.
Stephen is one of just two Englishman in the country to hold the Professional Barbell Coach certification. He progressed through one of the first groups in the Barbell Logic Coaching Academy after which he joined their Internship program to hone his skills as a coach. He has attended a Starting Strength seminar in Wichita Falls, U.S. Stephen holds the following qualifications:
- Barbell Logic Professional Barbell Coach full certificate (PBC)
- BLOC staff Coach
- Personal Trainer Level 3
- Precision Nutrition Level 1
- British Weightlifting Level 2 Certification
- British Powerlifting Level 2 Coach
- BA Hons in Music (UEA)
- PGdip from the Royal College of Music
Stephen originally trained as a classical musician at the University of East Anglia, Norwich and the Royal College of Music, London. Since 2007 Stephen has worked with Orchestras and Musical Theatre productions around the UK and Europe.
He is hugely passionate about helping others discover and enjoy the many strength and health benefits that come from this training.
Christina Marples
Christina is currently the only British female in the UK holding the Professional Barbell Coach certification.
She is a Staff Coach and PBC for Barbell Logic Online Coaching and Head coach at Norwich Strength Training.
Having previously already worked in the fitness profession for ten years, initially specialising in group fitness training, in 2017 Christina moved into one to one coaching and acquired the level three personal training qualification. Most recently, Christina has completed the Barbell Logic Coaching Academy prior to successfully passing the BLOC interview and examinations to become a Staff Coach.
Christina also trains 4 times each week with coaching from Barbell Logic Online Coaching and actively promotes and encourages lifting in all her training programs using the Starting Strength method. She also audited a Coaches Camp run through Barbell Logic in Missouri, USA and has participated in Barbell Logic lifting camps. All of this has extensively increased her knowledge of barbell training and coaching methods and she hopes to use this to help improve others health and quality of life. Christina completed the Barbell Logic Coaching Academy program in 2020 and is now an PBC and Experience Team member for Barbell-Logic.com. Christina holds the following qualifications:
- Barbell Logic Associate Coach
- Barbell Logic PBC (Professional Barbell Coach)
- Barbell Logic Staff Coach
- Barbell Logic Coaching Academy Graduate
- Level 2 Gym Instructor
- Level 2 Group Fitness Instructor
- Level 3 Personal Trainer
- Level 2 Exercise to Music Instructor
Christina aims to help improve others quality of life through strength training and work towards a simple and effective solution to get clients measurable results.
Why Strength?
We believe that strength is the most important physical attribute to train. Developing our ability to produce force improves every other aspect of our physical existence.
From athletic goals like the ability to Run faster, Jump higher, or Cycle farther – to lifestyle goals like being able to climb the stairs more easily, get out of a chair without assistance, lift your grandchildren without pain. Training strength first gets you to those goals faster than any other way.
For general health, resistance training has been shown to increase muscle mass and bone density, reducing and reversing the effects of ageing such as sarcopenia, osteopenia and osteoporosis which if left untreated can lead to premature frailty. Increased muscle mass and raised activity levels also help the body to more effectively resist serious health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.