The Barbell Club is a small-group strength training community at Iron Soul Gym led by Iron Soul Gym coaches. We focus on barbell strength training in a supportive, inclusive environment where people of all experience levels can build strength, confidence, and consistency. Members follow individualized structured programming with coaching support during sessions, with exercises and training adjusted to each person’s experience level, goals, and needs.

We created The Barbell Club to make strength training more accessible, structured, and supported through coaching and community. It’s a space where people of all experience levels can learn to lift confidently, feel comfortable in the process, and build strength in a sustainable way.

What makes it unique is the combination of 1:1 coaching and individualized programming inside a small-group training environment. You get personalized programming and coaching attention while still training alongside others. This setup doesn’t exist anywhere else in Albuquerque in quite the same way.

More than anything, it’s a place where people can show up as they are, be coached well, and train alongside others working toward similar goals, with a focus on learning, consistency, and long-term strength.

Barbells are one of the most effective and approachable tools for building full-body strength because they allow movements to be adjusted to your individual ability level and progressed gradually over time. Unlike many machines or random workouts, barbell training focuses on foundational movement patterns that carry over to everyday life while giving you clear ways to measure progress. You do not need experience to start — most people begin with very light weights or even just the bar itself while learning technique, confidence, and consistency with the support of a coach.

This isn’t a drop-in class or a daily workout-of-the-day format. Members follow a consistent weekly schedule with the same coach so training stays structured, progressive, and personalized over time.

Everyone starts with a 1:1 Intro Session to go over goals and learn the foundational lifts. From there, you’ll train from an individualized program delivered through an app during your scheduled sessions with coach support.

Sessions are 90 minutes long, but most workouts take only about 60 minutes. The extra time gives space to warm up, ask questions, connect with others, and move at your own pace - your workout is done when you’re done.

Your membership includes:

• Individualized programming delivered through an app

• Small-group coached training sessions

• Ongoing coaching feedback and support

• Strength and conditioning guidance tailored to your goals

• Access to our training community

Nope! Many of our members have never touched a barbell before. The Barbell Club is designed to teach all experience levels, from complete beginners to more experienced lifters returning to structured training. Everyone starts with an individual Intro Session where we go over the main barbell lifts (squat, bench press, overhead press, deadlift), while also assessing movement patterns, training history, and individual needs so we can meet you where you are and help you progress safely and confidently.

The first step is filling out the interest form on this website. From there, one of our coaches will reach out to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your goals, answer questions, and help find the best class time for your schedule. After that, you’ll complete a one-on-one Intro Session where we’ll begin teaching the foundational barbell lifts, get you comfortable in the gym environment, and set you up with your individualized program before joining your regular training group. You can start at anytime.

Our twice-per-week group coaching option is $250/month and our once-per-week option is $190/month, plus tax. New members also complete a one-time Intro Session for $100 plus tax before joining classes. Memberships are month-to-month with no long-term contract or commitment required. We typically expect members to start with two sessions per week to build consistency and learn the lifts, and after at least one month (or at a coach’s discretion), members may transition to once-per-week training if appropriate.

The primary goal of The Barbell Club is to teach you how to confidently train on your own in addition to building strength. We do not expect people to be here forever, but we do hope you will keep lifting for life, so we focus on giving you the skills to do that in any setting.

Self-sufficiency is a big part of the coaching process. While you will always have support and detailed coaching from your coach, you will also gradually take on more ownership of your training. That includes things like loading and setting up a barbell, understanding how to organize your lifts, and building your own warm ups over time.

It may feel like a lot at first, but we build it step by step. Our goal is for you to leave feeling comfortable walking into almost any gym and knowing how to train with or without us.

No, you don’t need any equipment to get started! We recommend wearing flat, stable shoes such as Converse or Vans, but they are not required and ONLY if they are in your closet - don’t go buy new shoes before you begin. As you continue training, you may choose to invest in lifting shoes or a belt, especially if strength training becomes a regular part of your routine. In the meantime, many of these items are available for use in the gym before you make any purchases. Once you join, we can also provide guidance on equipment options and recommendations for a range of budgets so you can decide what makes sense for you over time.

We offer several options to fit different schedules, and class times may adjust over time based on member needs. Please refer to the schedule above for the most up-to-date information.

All The Barbell Club sessions take place at Iron Soul Gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Classes are held in a dedicated training area with 10 lifting setups that is separate from the main open gym floor. This space is designed to feel open, supportive, and focused on learning, where you can try new things without pressure. You will never have to wait for equipment from a stranger, and you will be training alongside others who are working through the same coaching process.

Life happens. We get it.

If you miss a workout, simply let your coach know. In most cases, we'll have you complete the missed session before moving on to the next scheduled workout.

If you'll be absent from a coached group session, we'll do our best to accommodate a make-up session in another group held by the same coach when space is available. However, make-up sessions are not guaranteed and are only available within existing group training times.

Sessions do not carry over into future months, and missed sessions do not result in credits or refunds.

The good news is that you'll always have access to your programming and can complete your missed workout independently at Iron Soul Gym whenever it fits your schedule. Our goal is to help you keep your training moving forward, even when life gets busy.

Memberships are month-to-month with no long-term contract.

Fees are non-refundable regardless of attendance. Your membership reserves coaching, programming time, and a spot in a training group, so access isn’t based on how many sessions you attend in a given month.

Pauses are available for absences longer than one month and must be requested at the end of a billing cycle. If you pause, your spot in the group is released, and while we’ll do our best to accommodate your return, your exact training time cannot be guaranteed.

If you’re dealing with travel, schedule changes, or other life circumstances, talk with your coach first - there are often ways we can adjust programming so you can stay consistent without needing to pause.

We schedule a small number of planned breaks throughout the year, typically including a one-week break in the summer or fall and a two-week break around Christmas and New Year’s. These dates are communicated well in advance whenever possible. Other holiday closings are up to each individual coach as they come up.

Training does not stop during these periods. Members still receive programming and can continue training independently. Iron Soul Gym remains open 24/7, including holidays.

Coaches provide guidance before and after scheduled breaks so members feel prepared and supported while training on their own. These breaks also give our coaching staff time to rest and recharge so we can continue providing consistent, high-quality coaching year-round.