Get to know Coach Andy!

Andy coaches PUSH511's group CrossFit classes and is also one of the gym's personal trainers! Andy shared a little about himself and why he loves coaching at PUSH:

When did you start CrossFit? In May 2019. A client of mine at the time, which happened to be Coach Steph’s Mom, told me about PUSH. So I dropped in for a Bootcamp class to test things out. Loved it. Got a 4 Class Pass. The following month went to Unlimited. Well, that escalated quickly.

When did you start coaching at PUSH511? Started part-time coaching during the summer of 2020. Mainly outside in the mornings. Right before working my other gym job

What is your fitness background outside of CrossFit? Wrestling. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the sport. Taught me a lot about myself. It’s helped drive me to where I am today. Still involved in the community to this day. Also did cross country and track.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family. Was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. We moved to Baltimore (in Greektown) when I was 15. Graduated from Patterson High School. Attended Morgan State University. My nationality is Dominican. Have Three Brothers. One of them being my Twin Brother (yes we are identical) And loving parents who have been married for 36 years.

Tell us something we don’t know about you I can solve a Rubik's Cube in under a minute. I also happen to be proficient in using this squared object that takes a moment and freezes it in time and converts it into a digital file. People want to pay me for it for some reason. You can catch some of my photography work posted around the gym and on the header of every SugarWOD workout. You can also follow me on Instagram: @AndyAybar (Shameless shout-out plug).

What is your favorite movement? Anything gymnasty! I mean gymnastics. Bodyweight movements like pull-ups, muscle-ups, handstand walking, lunges, air squats. But also movements that get the pecs poppin'.

What is your least favorite movement? Anything I don’t like means I need to get better at it.

When do you normally coach? Any time Shannon isn’t coaching... I differentiate in class times. You can catch me at every class time expect for 4 pm & 4:50 am.

Do you prefer working out in the morning, afternoon or evening, and why? I like Mornings or early afternoons. Get it done early so the rest of the day I can focus on other physical tasks.

What is your favorite song to workout to? Anything with noise to drown out my breathing haha currently Trust By NF has been a banger. You’re welcome.

How has CrossFit affected your life outside the gym? With CrossFit being all about Functional Fitness- getting into a deep squat for low angled shots when doing photography, doing gymnastics movements at the playground, being physically fit in case someone wants to test me in a 100m dash or showing off with some handstand walks at the beach all play a part of following a CrossFit style fitness program.

What do you enjoy most about coaching? Seeing athletes do a movement or touch a weight they didn’t think their body can do. It’s always inspiring seeing someone achieve a fitness goal they set themselves out to do. Seeing everybody pushing their limits during a WOD. I’m always trying to have fun encouraging athletes through workouts.

What’s the next goal you’re looking to achieve as an athlete? Workout without any low back pain. It’s been getting better. Looking to test out a mile run when the weather gets better.

What’s the next goal you’re looking to achieve as a coach? Getting my CF-L2 which should be in around March.

What’s one thing you’d like to say to all our athletes at PUSH511? A couple quotes to live by:

• “Comparison is the thief of joy” -Theodore Roosevelt
• “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.” -Aristotle
• ¨If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.¨ -Fred Devito
• “Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you”
• “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” -Wayne Gretzky - Michael Scott

What tips would you offer someone who is just getting started with CrossFit? A House Dad to a Sugar Mama haha no, but I already work the best jobs in the world. Fitness & Photography. I have the power to create great personal experiences with both. I consider myself lucky to be doing what I love every day.

Come meet Coach Andy and try CrossFit out for yourself or schedule a personal training session!