Alena Luciani (@Training2XL) is Strength and Conditioning Coach and educator who works with both athletes in sport, and athletes in life. She played both basketball and lacrosse at Laurier University before progressing into her coaching career, where she has worked with athletes of all sports and all levels. She is also focused on elevating the field of strength and conditioning through her Cueing and Programming clinics for trainers and coaches, which you can find at https://www.training2xl.com/.

Coaching is about so much more than barking instructions, writing down exercises, and counting sets and reps – It’s about connecting with people. This is perhaps the least taught, yet most important skill to learn as a coach. Alena learned this through watching her father coach football and connecting with his players on an individual level, as well as learning about body language and human behaviour with her mother. She utilizes this knowledge in her own coaching, as well as passing it along to other coaches.

Anyone who seriously played sports knows that it’s difficult to lose your “athlete identity” and find out who you are outside of sport. Similarly, it’s difficult to find your own identity as a coach without simply copying what’s always been done. Alena and I spoke at length about her own journey through this and how it would apply to anyone in any field. We are more than our titles, we are who we are.

Alena also has a fantastic system in place to optimize working at home and utilizing her environment to her advantage rather than it being a downfall. From creating separate spaces to the clothes you wear and the routines or habits you follow, you must master your environment.

Alena works with people of all walks of life locally in Toronto and the GTA, as well as virtually with humans all over. If you’re a coach, you should definitely check out her Cueing & Programming Clinic. To get in touch and learn more about what she does, check out her website https://www.training2xl.com/ and follow her on IG. 

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