PHOTO: RYAN MELANSON
Women’s powerlifting seminars introduce CAF members to the sport
By Trident Staff
Aspiring military powerlifters had a special learning opportunity at the Fleet Fitness and Sports Centre throughout September, where PSP Halifax hosted two seminars led by Amy Muench, a strength and nutrition coach and Head of Trainer Development at Evolve Fitness in Halifax.
The sessions were aimed at Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members with some strength-training experience who wanted to learn more about competitive powerlifting. The first seminar covered competition rules, permitted equipment, judging standards and the commands used during the squat, bench press and deadlift.
The second focused on training and nutrition while giving participants a chance to put those lessons into practice. Muench said the two-part format allowed the group to work on technique with lighter weights before testing themselves with heavier lifts.
“We also had some big lifts happening in the gym, which was incredible to see,” she said.
The seminars were also intended to encourage more women to become involved in the CAF powerlifting community. Military lifters have opportunities to compete through CAF regional competitions and advance to the national level, and organizers, including Muench and PSP Fitness and Sports Instructor Heidi Thibodeau, hoped the sessions would help make that path more approachable for newcomers.
Muench said she approached the seminars by thinking about the information that would have helped her feel more comfortable when first entering the sport.
“I always look back to then and I think, ‘What would I have wanted to know ahead of time going into it? What would have made me feel more prepared?’ So that was kind of where I was trying to lead things.”
The sessions were held as part of the Fleet Powerlifting Collective initiative; members normally meet Mondays (2:30 – 3:30 p.m.) and Wednesdays (11 a.m. – noon) at the Fleet Fitness and Sports Centre. Fill out this form to receive more information.
