About · Bellevue, WA
A coaching-first studio in Bellevue
Ideal Strength & Performance exists so that every person who trains here leaves better than they arrived: stronger, more capable, and more confident.
Our standard
Leave it better than you found it
We believe coaching is a profession and a responsibility. When you walk through our door, our job is to send you home in a better place than you arrived, physically, with a stronger lift or better movement, and also mentally, because people bring stress, self-doubt, and fatigue into sessions.
That standard shapes everything: how we prepare, how we coach, how we treat each other, and how we hold ourselves accountable. Our studio is built for people who value expertise, structure, and a focused training environment, without overcrowded gyms or generic group classes.
What you can count on from every coach
Whatever format you choose, these are the standards we hold ourselves to.
Presence
We're engaged and actively coaching for the whole session. You should never feel ignored, rushed, or simply supervised.
Preparation
Programming, progressions, and coaching strategy are thought through before you arrive. Improvisation is not a coaching philosophy.
Education
We explain what you're doing and why, so you build confidence and independence instead of dependence on your coach.
Individual attention
We coach the person in front of us, based on goals, history, readiness, and life outside the gym, not a generic template.
Long-term thinking
We choose sustainable progress over short-term intensity, because durable strength is built through consistency and patience.
Meet your coaches
Every session is led by a coach who knows you by name, your goals, and your history.
Dan Stephenson
Owner & Coach
Dan is an owner and coach at Ideal Strength & Performance, bringing over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. He specializes in strength training, movement quality, and long-term athletic development for adults of all training levels.
Dan’s coaching philosophy centers on simplicity, intent, and sustainability. Rather than chasing trends, he focuses on helping members build strong fundamentals, move well, and train in a way that supports performance both inside and outside the gym. His approach is especially effective for busy professionals who want structured, purposeful training without unnecessary complexity.
In addition to coaching on the floor, Dan mentors fitness professionals and develops educational resources designed to bridge the gap between exercise science and real-world coaching. Whether you’re new to training or looking to refine your performance, Dan’s goal is to help you train smarter, stay resilient, and make consistent progress over the long term.
Tasha Whelan
Owner & Coach
Tasha is an owner and coach at Ideal Strength & Performance, bringing over 20 years of coaching experience along with a strong athletic background and leadership-driven approach.
With decades of hands-on coaching, Tasha helps clients build strength, improve movement quality, and develop long-term consistency through structured, purposeful training. As a competitive strength athlete, she has earned multiple international titles in both powerlifting and strongwoman—experience that informs her practical, results-driven approach in the gym.
Tasha has also contributed to educating other coaches as part of Dr. John Rusin’s Pain-Free Performance Specialist Team, giving her a deep understanding of how to apply effective, pain-free training systems across a wide range of clients.
Known for her supportive yet accountable approach, Tasha meets clients where they are while guiding them toward higher standards. Her leadership is a driving force behind the culture at Ideal Strength & Performance, helping ensure every client receives a professional, focused, and results-driven coaching experience.
James Terry
Performance Coach
James possesses over 15 years of experience as a personal trainer and coach, with a philosophy that emphasizes the integration of well-being into daily life and its cultivation as a design for living.
As a certified Pain-free Performance Specialist, he develops personalized fitness programs tailored to each client’s unique objectives. By meticulously addressing stability and mobility limitations, he aligns his approach with his clients’ current capabilities and empowers them with the necessary tools to manage pain and enhance their movement and performance.
James is dedicated to providing you with the confidence to overcome challenges, achieve your fitness aspirations, and optimize your longevity.
“James is a fantastic coach, very clear in his communication.”
— Barry A., Google review
Yaz Kabbani
Performance Coach
Yaz is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach with over 10 years of experience helping clients build muscle, improve body composition, and create sustainable habits that support their health and everyday life.
With a background in competitive gymnastics and coaching, Yaz has a special passion for working with kids, teens, families, and women through all stages of life, including pregnancy and postpartum. She takes an individualized approach to training, meeting each client where they are and helping them build strength and confidence.
Her education in nutrition, gut and hormone health, and mobility allows her to look beyond the workout and help clients understand how movement, nutrition, recovery, and daily habits work together.
Known for being approachable and encouraging, Yaz loves connecting with her clients and creating an environment where people feel comfortable, supported, and challenged. Her goal is to make fitness something clients enjoy, understand, and can sustain for life.
Marissa Akeo-Orr
Performance Coach
Marissa is a strength coach with over 13 years of coaching experience and a Master of Science in Human Performance & Wellness. She works with girls and women of all ages, athletes looking to improve performance, and everyday clients who want to build strength, move better, and feel more confident in the gym.
Marissa's coaching philosophy centers on meeting people where they are, providing education along the way, and building a foundation for long-term progress. She believes the gym should be a welcoming environment where clients feel comfortable learning, asking questions, and challenging themselves at their own pace.
Known for her supportive and approachable style, Marissa creates a fun training environment while helping clients recognize their potential and work toward new goals. Her goal is to help every client build strength and confidence that carry over into everyday life.
"The gym itself is fantastic… But the real magic is the training staff. They're world-class coaches who know how to push, teach, and support in all the right ways."
Monica S. · Gym member
Part of Ideal Strength
ISP is the in-person gym of Ideal Strength. If you can't train with us in Bellevue, or you're a coach yourself, there are other ways to work with us.
Find the coach who fits you
Start with a short form and a free 30-minute intro call. We'll tell you honestly which format and which coach fit.