
Who we are
CHRIS VAN NOSTRAND (He, Him)
Founder, Head Coach
Services: Small Group Training |Online Coaching |Personal Training
Specialities: Masters Athletes, Beginner Barbell Training, Powerlifting, Women over 40
Bio: Chris’s lifelong passion for strength training, nutrition, and athletics culminated with his discovery of powerlifting in his late-30s.
This new competitive outlet enhanced his performance as a marketing executive, which motivated a career pivot to coaching. He began with the goal of unleashing physical and mental strength for people 40 and above.
A former university instructor at UC Berkeley, Chris enjoys empowering clients with practical concepts from the latest exercise research, and creating a fun environment for people to push their limits.
In addition to running Strength Wise, Chris serves as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Chicago Union of the Ultimate Frisbee Association.
Chris earned his BA with distinction in political science from Kenyon College and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. He’s a certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with the ISSA, Conditioning Coach from Bioforce, and Exercise Nutrition Coach from PN1. He’s currently working toward his Women’s Coaching Certificate through GGS.
When not training or coaching he’s watching musicals with his wife and two sons, reading fiction, practicing bass guitar, or binging HBO shows.
astrid apopa (She, her)
Services: Small Group Training |Personal Training
Specialities: Olympic Lifting, Strength & Conditioning, CrossFit
Bio: Astrid has spent most of her life participating in athletics and creating positive, affirming gym cultures. Growing up, she played basketball in high school and lacrosse in college, where she discovered her passion for functional fitness and CrossFit. These experiences laid the foundation for her deep appreciation of strength, movement, and team environments.
After college, Astrid dedicated two years to training full-time for Olympic weightlifting, immersing herself in the technical and mental demands of the sport. A knee injury eventually forced her to step away from competition, but the experience led her to develop a comprehensive and thoughtful coaching philosophy. She believes in blending radical empathy with explosive movement, emphasizing the critical importance of recovery, proper muscle activation, stability, strength, and the often-overlooked power of rest days.
Before fully transitioning into the fitness world, Astrid also worked in the operating room, where she specialized in orthopedics, general surgery, and neurosurgery. Her time in the OR gave her a unique, hands-on understanding of the human body—specifically the complex structures of bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves—and how they function together. This background has profoundly influenced her coaching approach, allowing her to train clients with an eye toward long-term joint health, injury prevention, and functional movement integrity.
Astrid holds USAW-L1 and CF-L1 certifications and has gained coaching experience at Hardware Strength & Conditioning and LifeTime Fitness, where she’s worked with athletes of all levels and backgrounds.
Outside the gym, Astrid loves volunteering at the Evanston Animal Shelter, biking around the city, and unwinding at home with her three beloved dogs: Ca$h, Echo, and Charlie.
Assistant Coach
Zoë Goykhman
Services: Online Coaching |Personal Training
Specialities: Powerlifting, Tennis, Youth and Collegiate Athletics
Bio: Zoë began powerlifting after an injury derailed her tennis career. She’s one of the rising stars of the sport, having won every single meet in which she’s competed, including the USA Powerlifting 2024 Teen 3 National Championship, where she set the USAPL World Record Deadlift of 453 pounds. In USA Powerling Zoë has a total of 8 state records in the 82.5 kg weight class.
In her first Powerlifting America meet, Zoë set 3 Super Heavy-Weight state records including a 501 pound deadlift, 347 pound squat, and a 204 pound bench press.
Zoë sets high standards for her clients while also demonstrating tremendous empathy and the ability to empower her athletes. Like all Strength Wise coaches, she uses an evidence-based practice that blends the latest research with the unique personal experiences of every individual.
Zoë is currently pursuing her BA in political science from Kenyon College with a focus on classical political theory.
In her spare time enjoys hiking, baking, playing with her dog-niece, random trivia knowledge about geopolitical events, and completing the New York Times Word games.
Assistant Coach