Our Story
Look, I'm not gonna feed you some perfect origin story about how I woke up one day with all the answers. Truth is, I spent years chasing PRs and ignoring everything my body was screaming at me.
The Breaking Point
Three herniated discs and a shoulder that sounded like a gravel driveway every time I moved. That's what happened when I treated my body like a machine instead of, y'know, the only one I've got. Doctors said I might not lift heavy again. I said we'd see about that.
The Real Education
Spent two years studying yoga, meditation, and basically everything I used to roll my eyes at. Turns out breathing properly and actually listening to your body isn't "soft" - it's the missing piece. Got my RYT-500 not because it looked good on paper, but because it literally saved my training career.
Halcyon Veil Opens
Started in a 1200 sq ft space on Granville with 8 members who were willing to try something different. We weren't the biggest gym or the fanciest. But we were the place where you could deadlift heavy AND learn to sit still with your thoughts. Weird combo? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
Transformation Stories
"I came in thinking I needed to lose 40lbs. Left realizing I needed to find 40 reasons to love moving again. The weight followed." - Sarah T.
"Deadlifted 405 at 52 years old. But honestly? The real win was sleeping through the night without back pain." - David M.
Today & Tomorrow
We've grown to a team of 6 coaches, all with their own comeback stories. Our space has expanded, but the philosophy hasn't changed - strength isn't just about what you can lift. It's about how you show up when things get hard, how you treat yourself when nobody's watching, and whether you can sit in discomfort without losing your center.
What We Actually Believe
No Shortcuts
Real change takes time and consistency. Anyone promising 30-day transformations is selling you something we're not interested in.
Mind First
Your mental state dictates everything. We teach you to recognize the signals before your body sends the invoice.
Community Over Competition
Yeah, we track progress. But the person next to you isn't your rival - they're probably fighting their own battle you know nothing about.
Progress Isn't Linear
Some weeks you'll PR. Some weeks you'll barely want to show up. Both are part of the journey, and we're here for all of it.
The Team
We're not your typical gym crew. Everyone here has crashed and rebuilt themselves in some way. That's not a requirement for getting hired, but it seems to be the pattern - maybe because you can't fake empathy when someone's struggling through their fifth failed attempt at a clean.
Jamie Rodriguez
Olympic Lifting Coach
Former NCAA athlete, rebuilt technique after ACL surgery
Amir Patel
Mobility & Recovery Specialist
Physical therapist who understands the long game
Elena Kowalski
Yoga & Mindfulness Lead
200hr trauma-informed yoga, former corporate burnout survivor
Ready to Start Your Own Story?
No pressure, no judgment. Just honest work and people who get it.
Let's Talk