Lindsay Cruz

Strength training has been part of Lindsay’s life since she was a young teen, lifting weights alongside her mom. What started as a shared hobby quickly became a lifelong passion — not just for getting stronger, but for what strength does for a person’s confidence, resilience, and identity. In 2018, after moving to upstate New York, Lindsay made a complete career 180. She realized her true calling wasn’t just in lifting — it was in helping others discover their strength. She became deeply committed to changing the face of strength training and redefining what it feels like to walk into a gym. After stepping into her first kettlebell studio in Saratoga Springs, she immediately knew she had found her home. The combination of technical skill, simplicity, and powerful community left a lasting impression. She immersed herself in kettlebell education, attending certifications, seminars, and training events — proudly becoming what she calls a “kettlebell nerd.” When COVID shifted how people viewed fitness and community, Lindsay saw an opportunity. As families looked for safe, welcoming places to rebuild strength and connection, she created upLIFT Kettlebell Club — building a private training facility on her own property to offer small-group strength training with a highly personalized feel. upLIFT was built to be different. It’s a place where beginners feel welcome. Where teens gain confidence. Where parents train alongside their kids. Where no one needs to “get in shape before walking in.” Her mission is to eliminate that belief entirely. The gym should be a safe space — fun, challenging, and empowering from day one. Inspired by her own two children — who have been swinging kettlebells since they were toddlers — Lindsay has built a thriving youth strength program for kids and teens, starting as early as age 7. She loves coaching first-timers just as much as experienced teen lifters, helping them see that strength training isn’t intimidating — it’s inspiring. Her son now even assists in coaching younger classes, reflecting how deeply strength and community are woven into their family life. Beyond the gym walls, Lindsay is passionate about giving back. She actively supports Burnt Hills youth athletes and local teams and her annual Stronger Than Cancer Swing-A-Thon — a fundraiser that is now expanding nationwide, raising awareness and funds for families affected by cancer. At her core, Lindsay believes strength has a greater purpose. It builds confidence. It builds resilience. And it builds community.

There were two defining moments that shaped the Club into what it is today. The first came during COVID. At the time, I was coaching virtually — strength training, nutrition, mindset — and while I loved helping people, something felt missing. I craved real connection. Real energy. Real coaching moments. I missed the sound of kettlebells, and barbells hitting the floor and the high-fives after a hard set. It was my husband, Eric, who saw it before I fully did. He pushed me — gently but persistently — to stop waiting and build the thing we kept talking about. He believed in the vision before it had walls. Before it had a name. Before it felt safe. That push became upLIFT. The second turning point was far more personal. When my son was 10, we found out he had scoliosis. Like any parents, we dove into research — meeting with orthopedists, physical therapists, chiropractors, sports specialists. The answer we kept hearing wasn’t what we hoped for. There was no simple fix. No guaranteed reversal. But one piece of advice stood out. If we wanted to keep him out of a brace and keep him active in the sports he loved, someone told us: Make him really f*$%-ing strong. And that, I knew how to do. What started in our garage — a few of his friends, a barbell, kettlebells, and guidance — turned into something much bigger. As he trained, I watched his confidence grow alongside his strength. I saw what lifting could do beyond muscle. It built ownership. Posture. Presence. That experience reshaped everything. It inspired not only the youth program but the building of something bigger, in size and impact. It inspired the family-centered structure. It inspired the small, private space where beginners feel safe, teens feel empowered, and lifting has no age limits, from 7 to 70+. upLIFT was built from belief and from necessity. Belief that strength changes lives. And necessity that sometimes forces you to decide who you are and what you’re capable of building.