Meet Coach Jeanne

Hi! I’m Jeanne, and I’m so glad you’re here! Powerlifting has been an integral part of my life for 23 years. I started powerlifting and competing when my children were 4, 3, and 1. My training gave me a sense of “me” during that chaotic time when, as a mom, I gave everything to “them.” My training helped me gain confidence and pride, and it helped me through major events in my life—child rearing, divorce, menopause, injury, and widowhood. Of course, I couldn’t always be at the top of my game during these events, but I never stopped training, and I never gave up that piece of me that gave me peace.

I have numerous and diverse accomplishments: I’ve held multiple California State and World Records. I competed once in a Pro/Am Strongwoman competition, and I do bring strongman practices into our powerlifting training from time to time. Twice I dieted down to compete in Figure. The first time, life got messy and I had to step away from that goal. The second time—I’m proud to say that I made it to stage and competed in Figure at 51 years young!
But my greatest achievement by far has been the creation of Valhalla, an all-women powerlifting gym. We have brought women of all different backgrounds and abilities together to focus on one goal—creating a community to lift each other up.

The powerlifts (squat, bench press, and deadlift) are the main movements that are performed in powerlifting. However, to do these lifts, Shield Maidens also learn how to:

Engage our entire body for maximum performance
Calm the mind for the most difficult mental training aspects
Be comfortable in an uncomfortable situation
Truly show up for another lifter
Train to our fullest capacity despite an injury or physical disability

Our Valhalla motto, “Calm and Strong,” has enabled our lifters to find strength that they didn’t know they had both in and outside the gym.

At Valhalla we celebrate the power of our bodies. And we celebrate each other.

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