David Ippel was born & raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and attended Grand Valley State University for his degree in Exercise Science. From an early age, David has had a contagious passion for health & fitness.

While attending high school at NorthPointe Christian, David joined his very first weight lifting class (one that would shape his life & career).

His first weight lifting coach was unfortunately extremely negligent and had very little regard for his student’s safety. On the first day of class, this coach recklessly had his students perform expert-level barbell lifts with very little supervision or education on proper form and technique. As a result, David experienced a severe back injury, which developed into years of chronic low back pain and fear of movement.

While David was in college and into his 20’s, he continually battled chronic pain & repeatedly sustained injuries throughout his whole body. From a nagging shoulder impingement to multiple hamstring and hip flexor tears, spondylolisthesis diagnosis, followed by multiple lumbar and cervical disc herniations, and lastly a severe ankle and knee injury, it seemed like the vicious injury-pain cycle would never end. David suffered for over a decade, both physically and mentally. On many occasions, he almost gave up entirely.

He came to a breaking point; either give it his all to solve his chronic pain and injuries, or give up on life.

Although tempted many times to give up, David chose to to keep pushing forward. A flame slowly started to grow within him, one that has refused to go out. At first, these life-altering injuries seemed like a burden or a curse. But as this flame grew within him, he became aware that all of this pain and suffering happened for a reason, so that he could become who he is today.

Through his experiences and growing obsession with healing himself, David realised that he could help others just like him. What started as a personal journey with pain, injury, poor coaching, and a desperate desire to heal, became a devoted career to helping others heal through exercise. For the better part of the last decade, he has immersed himself in learning everything he can about physical training, injury recovery, the human body, & how to guide others on a similar journey.

David's newfound mission in life is to help coach people on a similar path, educating them how to properly exercise, break through their fear of movement, overcome their injuries and limitations, so they can live their lives to the fullest!