about us
We could've just opened up a regular gym, but where's the fun in that?
At Han Training, we believe that all bodies and all people deserve to find joy, resilience, and healing in movement and rediscover a lasting relationship with their bodies that focuses on strength, connection, and intention.
We adamantly believe in serving our communities by upholding queer/trans/gender-affirming, fat liberated, physically/financially accessible, trauma-informed, judgement-free and informative coaching to help our members reach their goals.
our values
accessibility
for all abilities, capacities, and any range of financial means
intention
in your choice of movement, and in every moment of stillness
liberation
for fat, skinny, thick, thin, curvy, lean, round, square, stocky, slender, tall, short, big, small, and all other bodies
affirmation
of all genders, sexualities, identities, and expressions
the team
they/them
Minky "LiftyBoi" Kim
founder + head trainer
CVT, CPT, PN1
Minky is a Korean, queer, non-binary, neurodivergent, transmasculine athlete, movement activist, storyteller, performer, sex work advocate, and fat-liberated personal trainer.
They founded Han Training after being disappointed in the lack of inclusive and accessible fitness trainers/spaces that align with the progressive and radical dismantling of white supremacy, queer/transphobia, fatphobia, ableism, and classism.
They are fully committed to providing as much knowledge and information as they can to their members so as to help others continue to build a connection with their bodies in a way that prioritizes the relationship between mind and body and encourages trust in oneself.
Certifications/Qualifications:
- ACE-Certified Personal Trainer
- Precision Nutrition 1 Certified (PN1)
- CPR/AED certified
Fitness Experience + Training Style Influences:
- powerlifting
- bodybuilding
- calisthenics
- yoga
- bouldering
- martial arts
they/them
Sam Kochanek
COM + assistant trainer
CPT
Sam is a queer, nonbinary transmasculine personal trainer (in training) in Chicago, IL.
Sam first encountered Han Training (formerly LiftyBoi Training) in 2020 through Minky’s instagram and community presence. In the fall of 2021, Sam connected with Minky to begin working as a part of the staff. In May 2022, they received their certification as a personal trainer, and will soon be a regular trainer at the gym.
Fitness and movement have been integral parts of Sam’s entire life; they’ve found gender euphoria, community, and joy in connecting with their body through training. Sam is wholeheartedly committed to creating a fitness space and community that centers marginalized folks and aims to dismantle intersecting forms of oppression affecting our communities.
When not working out, Sam loves to watch the Great British Bake Off, hang by the lake, and spend time with their toothless cat. They are energetic, passionate, and excited to help expand the invaluable community resource that is Han Training.
Certifications/Qualifications:
-
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
Fitness Experience + Training Style Influences:
-
powerlifting (2 years)
-
bodybuilding (4 years)
-
team sports (a LOT of years)
they/them
Parker Haines
assistant trainer
Parker identifies as a Black/Filipino/Chinese/BlackFoot Indian Queer, Trans Masc, Activist, Dog Lover, Artist, and Yogi.
Parker is a trained boxer, Certified Yoga teacher, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, and is currently working towards their Personal Trainer Certification.
Finding healing through yoga (breath and movement), Parker's goals have always been to share experience, space, and knowledge with their Queer Community, especially the Trans Community.
"Navigating work out spaces can be hard as a Trans/Non-binary person. We should have access to these spaces just like anyone else. We should see people that look like us as Trainers, Teachers, and Students. In Yoga, we create a Sankalpa. an intention. My Sankalpa is to create spaces where Trans/Non-Binary humans can fully show up as themselves, take up space, and feel seen and heard while doing it."
he/him
Tobias Rodriguez
assistant trainer
Outside of lifting, Tobias loves to cuddle his cat, Mister Wizard, while watching trashy reality tv.
After years of CrossFit and now dipping his toes into powerlifting, Tobias is excited to share his love of fitness with such an awesome queer and POC community.
He is always excited to meet all the wonderful people who contribute to Han’s strength and beauty.
she/they
Bridget Miles
resident early bird
Bridget is a queer, Hispanic woman who would absolutely not claim to be a "gym person". Han Training changed that by being an incredibly welcoming, non-judgmental, safe place to be. Bridget hopes to continue to help make the space feel that way for everyone.
When she's not being the loudest person at the gym, Bridget loves playing ultimate frisbee, swimming at the lake, and trying to find the best dessert places in Chicago.
he/they
Kam Yates
social media coordinator + CSR
Kam is a queer trans wannabe athlete from Missouri, and moved to Chicago to study film and video editing.
They had been looking for an affirming place to try out movement and fitness for many years and found Han Training through a mutual friend. He was too shy to try out exercising, so when an interview subject was needed for a school project he reached out to Minky, and ever since then he hasn't left.
Kam’s favorite class is mobility and they are beginning to develop a positive relationship with their body.
“I tried out lots of sports growing up, but since they made me feel dysphoric and bored I always quit. It has been lovely and healing to have a nonjudgmental space to work through the harsh feelings that being queer can bring up. I am thankful to be in community with people who bring out the beauty of being queer.”