About LIFTED
With self-discovery at the core, our coaching cultivates strength in every body and supports humans in rising into their highest selves, inside and out.
Redefining strength for every body
LIFTED offers inclusive, intuitive professional coaching grounded in proven strength training and Olympic weightlifting methodologies. From everyday movers to recreational athletes, we meet clients where they are—elevating confidence, resilience, and mind-body connection.
LIFTED’s approach to training
Strength, redefined
Inclusive by design
We honor both power and pliability, helping clients build strength in every form. Strength is more than physical—it’s resilience, recovery, and resolve.
We welcome all bodies, all levels, and all goals. We trade intimidation for encouragement, supporting self-discovery and independence along the way.
Human-first coaching
Caring community
We guide clients with expertise and care—meeting them where they are, challenging them with intention, and supporting both physical growth and confidence in movement.
We promise a supportive environment where genuine connection, trusted collaboration, and open communication fuel confidence from the inside out.
Meet your coach, Jessica
For much of her life, Jessica Taylor didn’t see herself as athletic. Traditional fitness spaces often felt unwelcoming, and movement seemed like something reserved for others. But just before her 30th birthday, she picked up a barbell—and everything shifted. What started as an experiment grew into a lifelong passion and, eventually, a new career path in 2015.
Today, Jessica is the owner and head strength coach of LIFTED (founded 2019), a weightlifting and lifestyle business built on the belief that movement should feel approachable, empowering, and rooted in justice. At Lifted, strength isn’t only about lifting heavy—it’s about building confidence, connecting with your body, and learning to show up for yourself.
Jessica brings a unique perspective to her coaching. Before becoming a USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach, USAW assistant instructor, GGS pre/postnatal coach, and trauma-informed practitioner, she spent more than a decade teaching music and leading programs in the nonprofit education sector.
Jessica started training Crossfit in 2013, has competed in the sport of Olympic weightlifting since 2015 with 2 international, 8 national and 4 local competitions under her belt. She has been a member of Team SAW (Strength Agenda Weightlifting) since 2019. During her time with Team SAW she has competed in multiple masters nationals, placing top 10, competing at Masters Worlds 2x, and a member of the women’s team podium.
With that background, she understands how to meet people where they are—with empathy, creativity, and an emphasis on community. Since 2017, she’s coached hundreds of athletes and clients, from complete beginners to competitive lifters, and now competes herself as a Master’s Olympic weightlifter on national and international platforms.
More than a coach, Jessica is a connector. She believes deeply in the power of relationships and in creating spaces where all bodies, abilities, and backgrounds feel welcome. Whether leading a class, hosting an event, or simply sharing ideas with neighbors, she champions the idea that everyone brings something valuable to the table.
When she’s not in the gym, you’ll find her with her fiancé Rashaun and their pup Lola, tending her garden, supporting the arts, or spending time in nature. In all areas of her life, Jessica continues to “swerve industry lanes” to expand what gym culture can look like—one that centers community, accessibility, and the joy of movement.
Where we train
Based in Chicago, we coach our in-person clients at Hiraya Training House, located at 3664 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618.
What our clients say
