# About

- Link: https://idealstrength.com/about/
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:28:59-07:00
- Author: Dan S

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.

 [ Connect with a Coach ](https://form.idealstrength.com/application/) [ Meet the coaches ](https://idealstrength.com/about/#coaches)

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.

![The Ideal Strength & Performance coaching team](https://idealstrength.com/wp-content/
uploads/2026/10/ISP-Team-Photo-1024x1024.png)

## 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.

![](https://idealstrength.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Dan-ISP-background-1024x575.
jpg)

### 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.

![](https://idealstrength.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Tasha-ISP-background-1024x575.
jpg)

### 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.

![](https://idealstrength.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/James-ISP-1024x575.jpg)

### 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

![](https://idealstrength.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Yaz-Profile-Gym-backgorund.
jpg)

### 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.

![](https://idealstrength.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Marissa-Flex-768x1024.jpeg)

### 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.

 [ Online Coaching ](https://idealstrength.com/online-coaching/) [ Training App ](https://idealstrength.com/training-app/)
[ Trainer Edge for coaches ](https://idealstrength.com/trainer-edge/)

## Find the coach who fits you

Start with a short form and a complimentary 30-minute Personal Game-Plan Session.
We'll explore your goals together and help you find the coach and format that suit
you.

 [ Connect with a Coach ](https://form.idealstrength.com/application/)

 [ Connect with a Coach ](https://form.idealstrength.com/application/)