miriam, head trainer.
Miriam Fried is an NYC based personal trainer and fitness entrepreneur. Born and raised in NJ, She graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in theatre before going on to become a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. After years of working in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Miriam quickly became disillusioned with the vast amounts of misinformation and harm perpetuated throughout the fitness industry, especially geared towards women and their bodies. She recognized a massive gap when it came to high-quality, well-educated, and compassionate trainers- and MF Strong was born. Miriam continues to be passionate about creating safe fitness spaces for women to build confidence, grow stronger, and gain the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about their bodies. With 10+ years in the industry, she has been a featured trainer in numerous publications including The New York Times, CNN, Elle Magazine, and The Skimm as well as named one of Byrdie’s top online trainers two years in a row.
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Pronatal Pre/Post Natal Exercise Specialist, CFSC (Certified Functional Strength Coach) , Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist
🍳🥞🥓 You can catch her @ brunch in NYC @ Quality Eats…
🍹🌶🌶 She’ll be the one drinking spicy margaritas, extra spice!
How MF strong are you?
I love challenging myself at the gym, but sometimes, knowing when to slow down is just as important. Strength isn’t just lifting heavy weights, but also knowing how to listen to your body, asking for help when we need it, and remembering that rest can sometimes be just as productive as a killer workout.
ANDREW, PERSONAL TRAINING MANAGER.
Born in Georgia and raised in Pennsylvanian farm country, I moved to Geneva, Switzerland when I was 13 and completed my high school education there while developing a passion for both acting and physics. At 18, I moved back to America to attend NYU, where I obtained a BFA in Acting. NYC is now home, and I still hate this city and love it even harder every single day.
I played a lot of sports growing up: soccer, rugby, martial arts, skiing, rock-climbing, etc., and realized during my teenage years that team sports weren’t for me. I felt no inherent competition against others, but loved competing against myself. Solo sports were the way to go. So when I stepped into the gym for the first time during college, I took to it like a pig in shit. I may have had no idea what I was doing in the weight room at first, but I was consistent and started to see results.
After a few years of casually working out, I decided I wanted to study the science behind how and why strength training works. Becoming a trainer was a natural progression for me - it allowed me to combine my love of physics, competition against oneself, and people skills while making a genuine change for the better in other peoples’ lives. I’ve been training now for 5 years and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon, because I’ll never get past the joy of watching somebody learn how to do the things I did to change my life.
Being strong influences every aspect of our lives. It gives you confidence in yourself, provides practical benefits to your daily routine, and helps you live a longer, healthier life where you can participate in the activities you want to.
I want to look good, to feel good, to ski every season, and to play in the backyard with my grandkids, just to name a few. I know that nothing is guaranteed, but you’d might as well stack the odds in your favor as best as you can. Come get MF strong with myself and the rest of the team.
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Functional Movement Specialist
🍳🥞🥓 You can catch him @ brunch in NYC @ Queen’s Comfort.
🍋🍸🍯 He’ll be drinking a Bee’s Knees.
How MF strong are you?
Always trying to be stronger, but appreciative of where I am right now. There’s nothing wrong with striving to be better, but I never want to lose sight of how far I’ve already come. Staying present is crucial. Once you’ve mastered that, let’s look towards the future together.
NATALIE, TRAINER.
Natalie is a Midwest gal born & raised in Ohio, and she’s always had a love for movement. After graduating from Ohio State University, she relocated to NYC, with her heart set on doing big things in the Big Apple! She grew up as a competitive dancer through high school and into college; her passion for fitness evolved through her passion for dance. She feels her best when she’s moving her body in ways that make her happy. She aims to help others feel that same joy while they're movin' & groovin' (or lifting weights!).
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 NASM Personal Trainer
🍳🥞🥓 You can catch her @ brunch in NYC @ The Smith…
🍹🍅🍋 She’ll be the one drinking a bloody mary. (any time is bloody mary time!)
How MF strong are you?
When you find a workout you enjoy, it stops feeling like a workout. My gym time is self-care; not punishment. I work hard because I love it and want to challenge myself in all areas of life, not because I feel like that's what society (or Instagram) pressures me to do.
GINA, TRAINER.
Gina was born and raised in Orange County, California and spent nearly a decade in San Francisco before relocating to New York City in 2019. Gina's fitness journey started in high school, running varsity cross-country and track all four years. One of her biggest accomplishments to date was running her first (and last) marathon in San Francisco under 4 hours. Since then, Gina found and fell in love with weightlifting herself, but also fell in love with helping other women build confidence in the gym.
Gina is equally passionate about lifting and behavior change. While she doesn't believe in toxic fitness phrases like "no excuses," she does believe in offering accountability, extending grace, growing awareness and uncovering underlying beliefs / mental obstacles. She believes in nuance and operating in the middle — where athleticism meets aesthetics meets function.
Gina's mission as a personal trainer is helping people train smart, move well, and get strong through ALL stages of life.
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 NASM CPT, Pain-Free Specialist (PPSC), Pre & Postnatal Certified Coach (GGS-CPPC), PPSC*Programming, Health Mindset Coaching (HMCC)
🍳🥞🥓 You’ll find her brunchin’ @ Anejo
🍹🌶🌶 She’ll be drinking any spicy cocktail with mezcal!
How MF strong are you?
Physical, emotional, and mental strength are all equally important. Falling in love with the process is far more rewarding than prioritizing the outcome. Train strong, live strong, be strong.
Becca, TRAINER.
Becca grew up loving physical activity. She ran track and field and played tennis but had to stop because of an injury. Becca's track and field coach suggested she work with a trainer to build strength and to prevent future injury. Under the mentorship of her trainer, Becca discovered a newfound appreciation for the physical and mental benefits of strength training. Upon obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Sciences from The George Washington University, Becca set out to help others achieve the same benefits of exercise that she experienced. Now, as a certified personal trainer, Becca is committed to guiding others on their own path to strength and confidence. Becca believes in a personalized approach to fitness where she tailors each program to the unique needs of her clients. Becca is a warm and empathetic trainer, putting herself in her clients’ shoes to help them find their true strength.
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 ACE Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Functional Training Specialist, Pronatal Pre/postnatal Fitness Specialist
🍳🥞🥓 You can catch her @ brunch in NYC @ Mudspot
🍹🍋🍓 She’ll be drinking a Mai Tai or lemon berry kombucha (the best flavor!)
How MF strong are you?
Working out should not be painful. Harder ≠ better. Soreness ≠ success. Faster ≠ sustainable. Exercise is a lifelong pursuit. Train because you love it and because it makes you feel strong.
KILEY, TRAINER.
After an at-birth injury, Kiley found her movement therapy in dance. Finding joy and empowerment in movement, this passion developed into learning how the body grows, reacts, and adapts to the stimulus of exercise and training. Upon earning her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and Dance at the University of Alabama, Kiley moved to NYC to take up a career of movement - throwing herself into the fitness industry and performing arts communities. This love for movement has now grown into much more - a love for sharing it with people!
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, ACSM Group Exercise Instructor, ACSM Exercise Physiologist
🍳🥞🥓 You’ll find her brunchin’ @ Red Rooster in Harlem! :)
🍹🌶🌶 She’ll be drinking an Aperol Spritz!
How MF strong are you?
Every single body is different, and you know your body best! "Strong" is going to mean something different for each person, and I'm here to help you discover and achieve that! For me, I'm not strong 'despite' my injury, I'm strong because of it. Let's find your strength together!
meg, TRAINER.
Born and raised in NYC, Meg has spent most of her life in the hustle and bustle of the city she calls home. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from Hunter College, she started her professional journey as a digital marketing specialist for startup software firms. However, her passion for movement and mental health eventually drew her into the world of fitness.
Initially, Meg struggled with her relationship to exercise, but breaking free from the constraints of diet culture allowed her to rediscover fitness as an empowering and joyful experience. From teaching kickboxing to mastering kettlebell training and strength work, to adding running back into her routine, she’s all about exploring how different forms of movement support mental health and resilience. Her mission is to help clients of all bodies and abilities find their own version of "strong" and celebrate the badass within.
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist (SITA), Trauma Informed (MFT1), Pre/Postnatal Certified (GGS)
🍳🥞🥓 You’ll find her brunchin’... at home! Nothing beats waffles in bed while watching cartoons. :)
🍹🌶🌶 She’ll be sipping on an old fashioned – she’s a bourbon girl through and through!
How MF strong are you?
Fitness is a lifelong journey that everybody has a right to experience. One person's journey isn't going to look like someone else's and that's great because we're all in different bodies! I'm here to help clients find what makes YOU feel best and most accomplished in your unique body with no shame attached. We push when it feels good, we pull back when we need to, and we always keep the fact that rest is an important part of the training process in mind.
Diana, TRAINER.
Originally from Chiapas, Mexico, Diana has always been an active person. Growing up, her mom encouraged her to play sports, leading her to compete on her state’s national swimming team and in athletics. But like many, life got busy with college and work, and movement took a backseat. It wasn’t until she moved to the U.S. at 24 that fitness found its way back into her life. Adjusting to a new culture brought unexpected changes, and the gym quickly became her safe place—a space for both physical and mental transformation.
What started as a personal journey soon became a passion for helping others. After nearly two years of training, people began seeking her advice, and she realized the impact she could have on others. Choosing fitness as a lifestyle was one of the best decisions she ever made, but turning it into a career? That’s been a dream come true. Diana finds fulfillment in watching people push past their limits, discover their strength, and grow—both physically and mentally.
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 ISSA Certified Personal Trainer | Currently studying for Corrective Exercise Specialist, Strength and Conditioning, and Nutritionist certifications
🍳🥞🥓 You’ll find her brunchin’ at Banter—or meal prepping on other days!
🍹🌶🌶 She’ll be sipping on a Poppi soda—no alcohol for her!
How MF strong are you?
I am the strongest myself and blessed because I get to do every day what fuels my passion, my drive, and my sense of purpose. More than a hobby—it's a lifestyle. Fitness has taught me so much about resilience, discipline, and the power of consistency—lessons that I’m lucky to share with others. The impact I’m able to make out there is something I cherish deeply. I'm an active and passionate individual who thrives on staying fit, pursue a healthy life style and pushing my limits.