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Coaching staff

Three coaches run every session on the timetable. No unstaffed hour, no rotating cover.

Priya Desai, portrait

Priya Desai

Strength & platform coach · founder

Opened Ashgrove in 2019 after eight years coaching powerlifting at a Bristol university club. Runs every Platform Room session on the timetable and writes the club's programming.

  • British Weight Lifting L2
  • USAPL coaching certificate
  • First aid at work

7 sessions this week

Owen Vance, portrait

Owen Vance

Conditioning coach

Former Royal Marines PTI, coaching conditioning at Ashgrove since 2021. Builds every Studio Floor conditioning session around the club's sled and rower fleet.

  • CrossFit Level 2
  • Military fitness instructor cadre
  • First aid at work

4 sessions this week

Mara Lindqvist, portrait

Mara Lindqvist

Mobility & yoga-hybrid coach

Trained in Gothenburg as a physiotherapist before moving into strength-adjacent mobility coaching. Runs the club's mobility sessions as active recovery for the lifters on the platform.

  • Chartered physiotherapist (Sweden)
  • Yoga Alliance RYT-200
  • First aid at work

3 sessions this week

Priya Desai, portrait

Founder, 2019

Priya Desai

Opened Ashgrove in 2019 after eight years coaching powerlifting at a Bristol university club. Runs every Platform Room session on the timetable and writes the club's programming.

This week’s sessions

  • Monday 06:00 · Platform Room5/10
  • Monday 18:30 · Platform Room4/10
  • Tuesday 06:00 · Platform Room7/10
  • Wednesday 06:00 · Platform Room6/10
  • Wednesday 18:30 · Platform Room10/10
  • Thursday 18:00 · Platform Room5/10
  • Friday 06:00 · Platform Room4/10

Certifications held

British Weight Lifting L2USAPL coaching certificateFirst aid at workCrossFit Level 2Military fitness instructor cadreChartered physiotherapist (Sweden)Yoga Alliance RYT-200