Olympic Lifting coach Astrid has spent most of her life participating in athletics and creating positive, affirming gym cultures. Growing up, she played basketball in high school and lacrosse in college, where she discovered her passion for functional fitness and CrossFit. These experiences laid the foundation for her deep appreciation of strength, movement, and team environments.
After college, Astrid dedicated two years to training full-time for Olympic weightlifting, immersing herself in the technical and mental demands of the sport. A knee injury eventually forced her to step away from competition, but the experience led her to develop a comprehensive and thoughtful coaching philosophy. She believes in blending radical empathy with explosive movement, emphasizing the critical importance of recovery, proper muscle activation, stability, strength, and the often-overlooked power of rest days.
Before fully transitioning into the fitness world, Astrid also worked in the operating room, where she specialized in orthopedics, general surgery, and neurosurgery. Her time in the OR gave her a unique, hands-on understanding of the human body—specifically the complex structures of bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves—and how they function together. This background has profoundly influenced her coaching approach, allowing her to train clients with an eye toward long-term joint health, injury prevention, and functional movement integrity.
Astrid holds USAW-L1 and CF-L1 certifications and has gained coaching experience at Hardware Strength & Conditioning and LifeTime Fitness, where she’s worked with athletes of all levels and backgrounds.
Outside the gym, Astrid loves volunteering at the Evanston Animal Shelter, biking around the city, and unwinding at home with her three beloved dogs: Ca$h, Echo, and Charlie.
Dr. Benjamin Fergus, DC, DNS
- Graduate of National University of Health Sciences
- Founder and Clinic Director of Cornerstone Health
- Specializes in evaluation and treatment of chronic and complex presentations, biomechanics, and sports medicine.
- Founder and Head Instructor of GRIP Approach (Global Rehabilitation & Injury Prevention)
International medical educator on examination, rehabilitation, manual therapy and sports performance.
- First Illinois physician to be named a Certified Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Practitioner after completion of an intensive rotation at Motol Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Sports medicine consultant to collegiate, professional, and Olympic teams
> “I founded Cornerstone Health to offer the highest quality healthcare to patients who have struggled with other options. I am dedicated to helping you achieve your health goals.”
– Dr. Benjamin Fergus
Chris Van Nostrand is a certified strength & conditioning specialist and nutrition coach with a speciality in barbell lifting. He’s taught clients of all ages how to lift safely and effectively in order to improve physical strength, self-confidence, and resilience.
Chris has competed in the United States Strengthlifting Federation and the United States Powerlifting Association, and is a former university instructor and non-profit executive. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young sons, and coaching little league baseball in Evanston.
