Erika Benninghoff

About Coach

CrossFit Coach, Personal Trainer, Forest Fit Coach Growing up in northern Sweden, being outdoors and exercising was just a part of the lifestyle. With a background as a competitive gymnast, a dancer, and an acrobat in her mother’s youth circus, Erika got an early understanding of how the body responds to physical activity. It was a natural progression to begin coaching as she got older. As a dance instructor, group fitness instructor, gymnastics coach, and personal trainer Erika has found her passion in helping people find their optimal health and build strong bodies ready to take on anything from daily activities to multiple-day adventure races. “Exercise has always been a part of my life, but after joining this Crossfit community, it just took it to the next level!” Erika says. “The combination of athletic/gymnastic movements with weight lifting has challenged and strengthened my body in a way that no other sports have done so far.” When given the opportunity to spread her joy for Crossfit further by coaching, she didn’t hesitate a second. Erika also programs and coaches our FUNdamental FITness classes, which are unique to Crossfit Sympatheia. Her focus for the FUN FIT class is to create fun workouts that are both challenging for hardcore athletes and modifiable for all physical abilities. She says she gets as much energy in return from coaching as she sends out. “Seeing that shift from struggle to the determination to pride in someone’s face is truly priceless.”