Denver's Premiere
Powerlifting & Weightlifting Performance Facility
official training facility of University of Colorado Powerlifting
affiliate club of USA Weightlifting & USA Powerlifting
powerlifting
weightlifting
strength
Our Mission
Welcome to Muscle + Mindset, where our mission is to share the transformative benefits of barbell training by cultivating a welcoming community supported by high-quality coaching. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a barbell novice, our community is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for your journey in powerlifting and olympic weightlifting. Embrace the challenge, elevate your performance, and become part of a community that lives and breathes the thrill of achieving our strongest selves.
Unleash your full potential with Team M+M – where muscle meets community.
Testimonials
Renée VanVleet
M+M Powerlifting Team
“The atmosphere is great, friendly, and the coaching is top notch. The gym is clean and they have all the equipment you need to train. Amanda and Josh run a fantastic establishment. I'd recommend this gym to anyone!"
Jake Cohen
M+M Powerlifting Team
"The coaching is excellent. The community is wonderful; gym members come with all levels of previous lifting experience, which makes for a welcoming gym environment for all! 10/10 recommend if you are at all interested in strength sports, or just want to put on a little muscle to fight off gravity!"
Grace Chin
M+M Olympic Weightlifting Team
“Weight training always intimidated me before. Coach Amanda is so knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging. She listens to my concerns and limitations while pushing me to grow. M+M is a safe, non-judgmental, inclusive weightlifting gym that values each individual.”
Memberships
Muscle + Mindset offers membership options tailored to all experience levels. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced barbell sport athlete, we offer comprehensive coaching support, training programming, and nutrition counseling tailored to meet your strength goals. Click the button below to find the perfect membership for you!
Our Coaches
Amanda Pearo
Head Coach
Amanda Pearo is a barbell performance coach who has competed in barbell sports for over seven years. While she started lifting as a means of coping with her struggles with disordered eating, she quickly recognized the ways in which the barbell enriched her life, both in and out of the gym, and opted to leave her career as an educator to chart a new path toward helping others discover the pivotal impact of the barbell.
Amanda holds her Senior National Coach title through USA Powerlifting and is certified Level-II with USA Weightlifting. She has been honored to support many athletes to the national platform.
Amanda's approach to coaching is holistic and focused on the comprehensive well-being of the athlete. Her background in education provides a vast toolkit of skills and strategies to support each athlete’s unique journey and advance them toward their goals.
Our Assistant Coaches
Rachael Johnson
Powerlifting & Strength
Rachael “Coach Ranch” Johnson is a strength and conditioning coach who specializes in powerlifting sport. She competes in both the USAPL and the WRPF. She has competed in numerous meets, including USAPL Raw Nationals and two supertotal competitions.
Rachael has helped numerous beginner lifters start their strength journey, become proficient lifters and gain confidence in and outside of the gym. Working with Rachael, you can expect to be pushed physically and mentally, learn attention to pay attention to detail, and most of all to remember to have fun lifting weights.
Megan Anguiano
Weightlifting
Originally from Southern California Megan grew up in the weight room with her Dad. This quickly evolved into playing any sport she could including collegiate basketball.
After college and a few injuries, Megan was looking for a way to continue training. She discovered CrossFit and fell in love with the Olympic lifts. Shortly after she pivoted to Olympic Weightlifting as her primary sport and the rest is history.
Megan hopes to share and grow the sport of weightlifting with as many people as possible whether it is their primary sport, part of a different strength sport, or for general health and wellness.
Samuel Johnson
Powerlifting & Strength
Samuel Johnson, a Colorado native, is a passionate advocate for strength training and powerlifting. As a senior exercise science student, certified personal trainer, and club sports strength and conditioning coach, Sam seamlessly blends scientific knowledge with real-world experience to empower athletes.
With over two years of competitive experience with USA Powerlifting, he prioritizes the individual, tailoring coaching support to meet unique needs and development stages. Sam's coaching approach is deeply rooted in science and evidence-based practices, ensuring effective and safe guidance for athletes to maximize performance.
Nicky
Benfield
Weightlifting
Nicky Benfield, originally from Denver, brings a unique blend of experiences to her role. Despite her initial interests in theater, choir, and art, she discovered her passion for athletics during college after teaching yoga for many years. A trial session with CrossFit via a Groupon led introduced her to the Olympic lifts. Once she realized that cardio was NOT her jam, she began training and competing in weightlifting full time in 2020.
Her approach centers around helping individuals move effectively, maintain their health, and foster a positive self-image. Above all, she prioritizes building a supportive community within our gym where every member leaves training feeling valued and heard.
Check Out Our Most Recent Blog Posts...
...And What our Members Have to Say!
Additional Team Athlete Perks
Annalisa Averill, R.D.
Dietitian on Demand
Annalisa Averill is our staff dietitian who earned her Masters of Science in Nutrition from Arizona State University. She has over a decade of industry experience in healthcare and has worked with all ages of clientele. She is passionate about helping clients find balance in their lifestyle by digging deep into the root causes and addressing their fueling habits. Annie is currently working towards becoming a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Annie hosts a monthly event for M+M coaching clients called "Dietitian on Demand," usually on the third Monday of each month. During these events, she is available for a brief nutrition check-in for general guidance and Q&A.
Jessica Klain, D.P.T.
Physical Therapy on Demand
PT On Demand is a monthly wellness event exclusively for our Method and Method Plus members. Life can be demanding, but your health should always take center stage. Join us once a month to address those nagging aches and pains that might be hindering your progress.
Dr. Jessica Klain of Physio Yoga & Wellness provides personalized attention and care at no cost to our coaching clients. Whether it's muscle tightness, joint discomfort, or general aches, she is here to assess, advise, and guide you towards optimal physical well-being. This event is our way of showing appreciation to our team members – your commitment to self-improvement deserves a reward.