CARA CONWAY

  • NASM Personal Trainer

  • ISSA Corrective Exercise Specialist

  • Brig Biomechanics Specialist

  • Bioforce Conditioning Coach

  • Online Trainer Academy Certified

  • CPR/AED

About Cara

My passion for fitness and movement has been shaped by both professional experience and my own journey navigating physical limitations. After multiple basketball-related knee surgeries, I developed Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis, which gave me firsthand experience adapting training around injuries, pain, and movement restrictions. Those challenges taught me that fitness is not about perfection, it’s about finding what works for your body and continuing to move forward.

That experience has helped me better understand how to guide clients through their own limitations while continuing to make meaningful progress safely and confidently. Whether you’re dealing with aches and pains, old injuries, or simply feeling intimidated by the gym, my goal is to help you build strength in a way that feels realistic, approachable, and sustainable.

Before opening Cara Conway Personal Training in Newcastle, Washington, in 2021, I spent several years helping design and outfit personal training studios, physical therapy clinics, high school weight rooms, and corporate fitness facilities throughout the greater Portland area. While I enjoyed that work, I discovered that my true passion was coaching people directly and helping them feel stronger, healthier, and more confident in their bodies.

Nothing is more rewarding to me than seeing clients move better, gain confidence, and realize they are capable of more than they thought possible.

When I’m not coaching, you’ll usually find me reading, paddle boarding, playing pickleball, strength training, exploring all things wellness-related, or spending time with my cat Arlo and good friends.

My Training Philosophy

My training philosophy is simple: focus on the basics, do them consistently, and do them well.

In an industry that often promotes extreme workouts, constant personal records, and an all-or-nothing mindset, I take a different approach. I believe long-term progress comes from applying the fundamentals consistently, listening to our bodies, and providing the right amount of challenge to build strength, muscle, and confidence without sacrificing our ability to enjoy daily life.

I am not a “no pain, no gain” trainer. While training should be challenging, it should also be sustainable. My goal is for clients to leave workouts feeling accomplished, energized, and capable, not exhausted, beat up, or dreading their next session.

The most successful fitness programs are rarely the most complicated. The best results come from showing up consistently, progressing gradually, and building habits that can be maintained for years, not weeks.

Whether your goal is to get stronger, improve your health, lose body fat, move with less pain, or simply feel better in your body, my focus is on helping you train safely, effectively, and in a way that fits your real life.