MACKLEN MAYSE PERSONAL TRAINING

Strength training, flexibility and weight management in NYC or online.

I help you find the joy in doing hard things. Personalized workout sessions tailored to your fitness goals so you can size down in jeans or easily climb mountains with your family.

NY070424Portraits_MacklenMayse_byRominaH

I believe every woman over 30 should lift heavy things. With a background in education and performance art, I became a trainer to help women build strength so they can fit into last year’s jeans, start running again, join a sports league, or keep up with their kids. I offer in-person training and customized programs to help you stay strong, confident, and most importantly consistent.

HOWDY! I'M MACKLEN

PERSONAL TRAINING IS FOR YOU IF

You are new to working with weights

You crave structure and accountability

You're ready to level up a new fitness skill

The gym & equipment intimidates you but you're ready to face it

Jill C

This is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself! I feel more confident. I know what I can/can't do in a group class. I just tried on dresses for the weddings I’m attending this year – I went down 1-2 sizes! Noticed my waist is snatched and my obliques and shoulders are changing. At a party recently my friend said I’m looking really fit! When I was sleeping on my side, my hand brushed against my own bicep and I surprised myself…the muscles are bigger.

Sierra

Macklen is incredible. She’s fun, funny, knowledgeable, curious and inspiring. She has a unique way of pushing me while holding my hand, ensuring my own empowerment of my fitness journey while being there every step of the way. I’ve never been this consistent with my workouts or so focused on hitting goals. Thank you Macklen!

Sabine

Our weekly sessions are intense, but we also have a lot of fun. Macklen takes the time to listen to what's going on with me physically as well as whatever thoughts or feelings might be accompanying my progress. Am always looking forward to our next session and feel like I now have the tools to navigate my way through the gym, plus the motivation to do workouts on my own.

READ THE BLOG

Resources on equipment, nutrition, workouts and motivation.

Eating For Your Goals

Can nuts be my main protein source? One pattern I noticed while reading through my clients' nutrition notes in TrueCoach is there are...

Feb 254 min read

How to Manage Carbs and Stay Full: My Approach to Balanced Nutrition

I was doing my final Instagram scroll of the night when I saw this comment on a recent post I’d made showcasing my dinner: “In the...

Sep 30, 20245 min read

You're a Home Gym Baddie

You know you want to get stronger and get fit but you’re allergic to going to the gym. The bros. The smell. The overwhelming choices of...

Sep 11, 20242 min read

RECENT INSTAGRAM POSTS

If you have physique goals for this summer, let’s start locking in some changes now. Take it from my client and do these 3 things:

Consistency is your new middle name.
Learn to lift heavy.
Plug and play meals on repeat.

Want more help? Link in bio to join waitlist for strong club.

Getting close to failure—what it looks like in real life.

This is 85lbs for 4x10.

Last week, I did 3x8-10 at 85lbs with a warm-up set at 65lbs for 10-12.

Progress looks like small steps, knowing when to push, and understanding what “hard” or “lifting heavy” actually feels like.

Signs you’re getting close to failure:

✅ Your breathing shifts
✅ You start making faces 😅
✅ Your reps slow down, even when you try to move fast
✅ You pause before the next rep—mentally checking in before committing
✅ Muscles get real quivery

Why does this matter? Because most people are underloaded.

If you stop too soon, you’re not building the strength or muscle you could be. That’s fine when your goal is to maintain or just show up. Sometimes that’s the wave you need to ride.

But for the other times when you’re pushing to get that booty physique or to show off your defined shoulders in a wedding dress, then getting comfortable with finding your edge is a very useful skill.

You don’t need to go to failure every set, but you do need to get close enough that the last few reps take a lot of effort with pretty good form.

Failure doesn’t mean collapsing under the bar. It means knowing when to grind and when to call it.

That’s what we’re learning.

Want help? Join the waitlist for Strong Club, link in bio.

You have a choice. I don’t care which way you go—just make it a conscious one.

So… what’s it gonna be?

I started Strong Club in 2023 because I’d had one-too-many clients tell me they’d tried TONS of fitness programs and diets and never saw results.

They were intimated by the gym and busy AF.

My goal was to offer an online platform where you could learn proper techniques, stay motivated, and navigate fitness without shame. I wanted to build a supportive and fun community where members feel empowered to find strength at their own pace. A place where you have the skilled guidance and knowledge to do it safely and effectively.

Remember when Strong Club turned one last September?

Since then, we’ve celebrated even more wins—like Skye dropping 8 inches in 2024 and joining a public gym. Megan is the most active she’s ever been. Anne can now do 3+ bodyweight pull-ups.

Giulietta’s workouts are changing her midline and her mental game. Sabine is rocking her fancy non-baggy clothes, intentional about what she wears.

We tackled 5k and 10k runs, cheered on first-time PRs and hiked together.

Strong Club clients collectively lost over 30 pounds, 25 inches and on average lowered their resting heart rate by 9 beats per minute.

Now it’s 2025, and if you’re feeling that winter slump—where it’s easy to ditch your workouts or wait for ‘the perfect moment’….

there’s no better time to jump in than when things feel busy.

Strong Club is all about keeping you motivated, helping you build real strength, and giving you the accountability you need to see results.

In the past eighteen+ months, we’ve seen A1C levels normalize, knee pain vanish, back muscles grow, pre-pandemic dresses fit again, confidence shoot through the roof, and a community that supports each other every single day.

This is your chance to get out of that fitness rut and into a plan that works around your busy schedule.

Ready to see how strong and capable you really are?!

Join the Waitlist for Strong Club – to be the first to know when doors open. Link in bio.

Starting something new is hard and ALSO exciting!

If you’re a beginner at lifting weights, I gotchu.😉

I was there years ago (circa 2017?!) after yoga ran its course in my body.

I know how wild and intimidating the process of picking up weights can feel.

And ALSO how invigorating. How alive you might feel. The rush of doing something you didn’t think was possible! Amazing.

Where do you hold them?
Whats the exercise?
Which ones do I prioritize?
Is that muscle where I’m supposed to feel it?
How should I breathe?
Form check me please!

If those questions sound familiar to you, then I hope this video helps you out.

DM me or comment below with the top thing you’re intimidated by with weights.

Let’s break the process down and have some fun with it 🙂

You got this!

You just pulled your TRX out of storage or bought it on super sale…and you’re ready to use it at home to get that push/pull work in 💪🏼 This set-up video is for you.

Squat Questions, answered:

- do toes point out or forward?
- does the chest lean forward or up?
- will it help my knees?
- what’s up with muscle cramps?
- I can’t squat more than a few inches down…what’s best for me?

All these questions from this morning’s strength class for Ariel Kiley’s Embodiment Membership @arielkiley

Coming to ya from Kansas today 🌾

POV: your flight is cancelled and you’re snowed in…but you love fitness.

1. Adapt
2. Keep moving
3. Rest more maybe than usual

Adapt and shift to the circumstances. In this case it meant shoveling snow with my parents instead of running or lifting heavy at the gym.

I was grateful I could be here to help them.

2. Keep moving. I did air squats thru out the day, got walks in along the road before it was plowed. And then I walked a small loop trail in the back of my parents place. No treadmill, no problem 😆

3. I got more rest than usual. Soaked up the couch time by the fireplace and told myself I’d get gym in later this week.

Ride the waves and you’ll be more than capable to adopt a lifelong fitness habit.

The key is to get in what you can, when you can.

Every bit counts.

MVP Award goes to my cold weather gear. Waterproof boots and waterproof coat are 👌🏼 muy importante.

Some of y’all will get after me for this….but there’s “no bad weather, only bad clothing” 🤭

I went inside to warm up after about an hour in the sub 0 temps.

Ok, get out there and move. Or stay inside and move. Have fun!

Every year, you might tell yourself, “This is it. This is the year I [finally prioritize my fitness].”

But let’s be real. Life doesn’t pause so you can tackle your goals.

There’s work, the kids’ endless schedules (how is it possible to have this many school events?), and the never-ending to-do list that eats into your precious time.

Fitness often takes the backseat—not because you don’t care, but because there’s just so much on your plate.

But what if this year was different? What if you had a little extra accountability to keep that momentum going even when life gets hectic?

This year, I’m offering something new: Your Best Year Blueprint—and it’s completely FREE.

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Head over to the Google form (link in bio) and write down your New Year’s resolution (or your “word of the year”).

2️⃣ I’ll check in with you every quarter—no judgment, just a friendly nudge to help you stay on track.

It’s simple, and it’s designed for you: busy, full of ambition, but pulled in a million directions.

If this resonates, click link in bio “Your Best Year Blueprint” and tell me your goals for 2025. You’ve got this 😀

Because your fitness goals don’t need to take hours a day. Small steps, done consistently, with some accountability are what lead to big wins.

Cheers to a year full of progress, balance, and feeling like your best self.

I’m rooting for ya.

-Macklen

P.S. Imagine looking back in December and thinking, “I actually stuck with it this year.” Let’s make it happen—together. Happy New Year!

PPS we already had 3 people who responded with their words or the year: movement, reconstruct, and listen 🎉

Monday’s in-person classes are canceled due to weather-related travel delays from Kansas. (Monday Jan 6)

However, all virtual classes and client calls on Tuesday and Wednesday will run as scheduled.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!

See you soon ☃️

Gym session today was 20 minutes. Didn’t want to — did it anyway.

It took me the same amount of time to drive to and from the gym — 10 minutes drive there and 10 minutes drive back — so this was a 40 minute adventure total. If you workout from home, it’s even quicker.

This is what it looked like:

2 minutes — put stuff in locker
5 minutes — warm up hips, shoulders, spine
12 minutes — doing a mini circuit workout

Workout:

5 pull ups (can be assisted)
8 kickstand deadlifts per leg w kettlebells/dumbbells

Brief rest then repeat 2 more times

Finish:
1 minute of heavy dumbbell bicep curls
1 minute of trx inverted rows

May this year be the year that the fitness stuff becomes a sustainable and fun habit for you. I’m cheering for ya!

Want more workouts and helpful encouragement along the way?

Join the Locker Room — it’s my email list where I send out weekly(ish) nuggets. Link in bio to get on the list.

Here’s to a year of chaos, clarity, and countless reps 🍸 Let’s keep the momentum going!

Macklen

Oh my gosh y’all rocked the Fall Fitness Push Challenge. I am so stinkin’ proud of you for showing up to check the workouts off your busy to-do list, eat some yummy protein, and get those mother f’in steps in 😎

Huge Congratulations to our challenge prize winners Giulietta, Hedy, Megan and Natasha! It wasn’t easy but you did the dang thing. The habits you build now will continue to serve you for months, years, and decades.

Here are some other amazing accomplishments from the challenge:

🌶️ Megan noticed she has more of a booty lately 🍑 and is proud of her heavy bicep curls!
🌶️ Giulietta engrained her steps habit so much that she’s investing in a desk treadmill.
🌶️ Natasha, a busy working mom, went from zero workout routine to ready for more!
🌶️ Bridget is still heavy barbell bench pressing like a beast and is so close to beating her 2023 daily step average of 12k
🌶️ Danielle noticed she is stronger now compared to Fall 2023. The progress pics helped her reflect on the body comp changes that are happening…all due to a steady build of activity levels since the pandemic. Can we say discipline!
🌶️ Hedy pushed thru on some tough days to get her steps in, even tho it would have been very easy to skip
🌶️ Mina’s been so focused on prioritizing protein and physical fitness that her Doc is congratulating her on blood tests.
🌶️ Kiki re-fueled her workout routine after 2 years on again / off again

You all put in the work. I’m so dang proud of you!

It isn’t easy to build fitness and health habits. But you keep showing up and demonstrating to yourself that you’re more than capable. I can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

Let’s keep the momentum going into 2025!

-Macklen

PS join our waitlist for Strong Club — link in bio. You’ll be the first to know when doors open and you’ll get a free 30minute bonus workout to hold you over for the holidays until we open doors in 2025.

Quick shoutout to Jill a 1:1 client who’s knocking it outta the park. 😍 It’s so fun to watch you rock lady!

Steal her method:

- strength train about 4x a week (30 min sessions are enough)
- eat well most of the time (prioritize protein)
- walk stairs and walk outside
- go jeans shopping cuz you need to size down
- push your edge a little, on the regular (she’s a BOSS at squeezing out one last rep!)
- get used to saying “thanks, I’ve been working for it!” When someone compliments your physical and energetic changes
- listen to your body and adjust exercise routines as necessary
- find exercises you love (Jill adores kettlebells and feeling her core)
- find teachers and coaches who you can easily talk with

More to come 👏🏼 what a pro!

-Macklen

A few clients asked recently about my art background, and I realized I don’t talk about it much here… so a little visual snippet for you. Circa 2013-ish

Over a decade ago I went to grad school for an MFA at Pratt doing all kinds of fun things — found object assemblage sculpture, performative photography, video art with my sculptures, and a LOT of performance art. Plus some puppetry 🤓

It was a magical (and highly challenging time). Met professors who are now dear friends. Met fellow students who are my biggest cheerleaders and family. Followed one of my big dreams to move to NYC!

In school and for a few years after, I loved doing durational performances using improv, the space available, and the limits of my physical athleticism. Some performances were for 2 hours 🫠

Gotta dig into the archives for some old videos — they’re pretty funny to watch now.

Life is one ever evolving thing and I love that. These days I don’t have a formal art practice. I still utilize my creative problem solving ability and love of improv for running a business and teaching a wide range of clients.

Those precious grad school days are the thing that got me to the next thing: teaching yoga.

And then yoga got me into strength training and mobility. And all of that led to build a fitness business serving clients that I adore cheering for. Pretty amazing!

So if you’re in the middle of a thing right now, enjoy the moment! You will probably (hopefully 😉) morph later.

And for all of my people here who have a creative practice (looking at you video editors, musicians, sound techs, puppeteers, and more)…I see you and appreciate what you pour into your creative practice. Keep on!

When you really, really don’t want to workout, remember these 3 things:

1. The win is walking thru the door. Anything else is extra.

2. If you’re feeling low energy, then lower the volume but keep the intensity. Fewer reps, fewer sets, but still lifting heavy.

For this exercise that meant going slow on my reps and doing a big stretch to maximize my range of motion, which felt intense. I didn’t do high reps or sets.

Sure I could’ve gone heavier. I couldn’t be bothered to walk across the room to find some 10lb plates to add on 😂 so I focused on pacing instead. No stress. These reps are all extra anyways, right?! Right.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of an accountability partner. Do a workout with friends, a coach, a class, a run club, etc. (or in my case with Mr. F) This makes it so much more fun and enjoyable.

PS an accountability partner can be someone like your Coach that you text and tell them “I’m walking to the gym, can you check in on me later today to make sure I lifted something?”

Everyone has days when they don’t want to do the thing.

The muscles you see on my back are from years (years!) of showing up and lifting heavy shit. It’s not magic. It took a shit ton of work, protein, rest, and fun.

PPS You might surprise yourself by feeling a bit more chipper after the workout. Does that always happen? Nah. Is it nice when it does? You betcha.

Let’s go. Walk thru that door.

-Macklen

Need some accountability to jump start your workouts? Join the waitlist for Strong Club. Link in bio.

Over here we like to make hard things fun.

Sure you can grin and bear it, but eventually you’ll probably burn out.

Here’s how I make running in the cold fun:

I think of it like a game (how far can I go given the weather and clothing and body aches)
I stay close-ish to home knowing I can tap out anytime (usually go longer cuz it’s fun)
Run outside so I don’t get bored on a treadmill AND feel like I’m really alive.
Try to learn street names and learn about new parks being built up
Pause when I need to or want to — todays pauses were for mini video captures, to let the cute daycare kiddo parade waltz by, to admire the city, to assess a cool construction site, and to smile at a couple doggos.

I get it — not everyone wants to be in cold weather.

Honestly I don’t know how long I’ll last cuz this is the fist season I’m really going for it and feel like I understand my limits.

Let the games begin!

I joined a new gym tonight (it ain’t my first rodeo 😉). During my first workout I waved down a stranger walking by to ask him where I could find the foam rollers.

Cuz mama looked everywhere and saw zilch. Gotta get that workout done asap — places to be and protein to eat 😆.

He was more than happy to point me in the right direction.

I also walked right up to a trainer who wasn’t busy and asked for a tour so I didn’t feel like a dummy peeking around all the corners. Tho that would be fine too lol.

People in gyms look serious, but they’re usually pretty friendly as long as you approach them while they’re on a break from their set. Don’t interrupt them while they’re lifting something or hyper focused on an exercise.

No better time than now to start.

January is usually crazy busy with people. So if you join a gym now you’ll get comfortable and in a groove before all the New Years people start arriving.

Go out there and get those gainz!

-Macklen

Your Strong Club exercise calls for a small looped band but all you have are long bands. Here’s how to transform that bitch into a loop! Have fun 🦵🏼🍗

The clients I see who are successful are the ones who understand they need a sustainable workout program.

They know it will take time. There’s no fast fix to making important and lasting changes to your body.

Change is hard. Sustainability is key.

Remember muscle is what will add quality to your life, especially if you’re in the last trimester of your life.

The easiest way to resistance train efficiently in full ranges of motion is with weights or weight machines. That’s why I have multiple clients who came to me saying “Yoga isn’t cutting it anymore.” They were ready to pick up weights.

****Friendly reminder: Yoga is not sufficient resistance training, because you can’t progressively overload the poses once you’re accustomed to your body weight.

I’ve seen it all. The clients who show up gung-ho only to burn out after a few weeks.

OR the clients who diligently show up, do half a workout, knowing it’s all they can get in for the day, and then show up again tomorrow to do what they can. (this is the unlock, the secret sauce, if you will)

I’ve seen clients who have a hard time showing up for themselves at all.

They say they want their fitness goals, but the journey to even get started is a slog.

There are excuses everywhere and they let other people dictate their goals or progress towards them. Victim mindset, I’ve been there, I get it.

You can choose to become the person you say you want to be, knowing it’s hard (but doable with small steps and support)

If you want to keep shit talking yourself, feeling guilty for not doing the things you say you will, or buying programs you don’t use, that’s fine.

You’ll be ready, when you’re ready.

First step is the hardest.

I can’t wait to see where this takes you!

-Macklen

PS Ready for your own workout plan? Join the waitlist for Strong Club to hear when doors open.

Some days are stressful. Kids are sick with ear infections, husband lost his job, your elbow thing flares up, shitty commute, tight deadline, etc.

You can do your absolute best to manage it.

Maybe you do something nice for yourself like grab a coffee at the local shop, sit in the sun for a few minutes, walk, dance, sing, or call a loved one. And yet you still might feel stressed. The realities of life waiting for you to address them.

That’s normal. Life isn’t perfect. It’s pretty messy sometimes.

It’s helpful if you can move with the stress. You can’t avoid it. You manage it. Manage it as best as you can.

One of my favorite things to do to manage stress is to exercise.

Often it looks like lifting weights. Hiking mountains. Taking a dance class. Or a simple ass walk. Today I opted for a super chill vinyasa yoga class with Mr. F.

He asked me before class how I was feeling. My response: “I have no idea. lol I feel like my brain is floating above my head”

A yoga class is a very familiar context for me. I associate that space with introspection, choice-making, and the sweetness of breathing.

It’s a total bonus that this studio has multiple disco balls, hello fun!

I’m grateful for decades of yoga practice. It remains a place to come home to.

Sure I fuckin’ love the gym, but I’m not beholden to it as my sole form of exercise. Does my body need it regularly? Yes. But I love dipping my toes in and out of different modalities and reminding my body what it’s capable of. Keeps things spicy ;)

My hope for you is that you can find forms of exercise that feel like home. Especially during stressful times. I hope you can find parts of the fitness world that you love. So you can easily pop into a class or a gym or a run club.

If you can figure out how to love exercising, then you’ll do it more.

When you can exercise more consistently, you’ll be able to relate to yourself differently and the world around you.

Off to bed now.

Rest well xo

-Macklen

Some people take off from the gym during the holidays. Others keep at it. I don’t care which one you choose - just make sure it’s a conscious choice.

My clients who are the most successful with their fitness see their workouts as a stress relief, a fun challenge, a time to recharge, an energizing boost.

Yes it’s hard work.

But it’s not a punishment.

It’s a willing choice to express your body’s capabilities. A choice to do something positive towards your health goals.

Work hard. But also know what you’re working towards. Fall Fitness Push Challengers know this well.

And yes rest is very important. So if you’re choosing rest this weekend — do it the fuck uuuupppp.

-Macklen

PS if you need a little support to get your fitness goals rolling - we’ll be opening the doors to Strong Club soon. Join the waitlist (link in bio) to be the first to know.

Fall Fitness Push - we are in the 4th week! These peeps are so diligent. Even when life gets a little wild, they show up and do just a little bit here and there. So pumped for you all 👏🏼

PS we’re doing a free workout class on zoom Thanksgiving morning 9am EST. Link in bio to register.

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