About Us
WE ARE A FULLY EQUIPPED
Fitness Facility
Raise the Bar’s flagship program Flexx & Fire represents over twenty years of industry experience, research, and product development. Owner & Co-Founder Brian Sweeney modeled the program from his experience in professional bodybuilding, endurance and conditioning programming, and national fitness program delivery. The best of what exercise science and professional experience has to offer has facilitated the creation of a program that conditions the individual 360°. This enables the client to “do life” with strength, poise, balance, and physical integrity.
Our Methodology
We recognize that all of our clients come from varying athletic backgrounds. We’ve trained everything from former high school and college athletes to individuals that are stepping into a gym for the first time. It is our belief that every individual has the potential to develop “athletic strength” and “athletic skill” at any age. Though the degrees at which those skills manifest differently from person to person the physical potential to create an athletic edge is attainable in the present – despite any previous level of activity, accomplishment, or injury that the individual may have experienced. Your best opportunity to be the best version of yourself is in the present.
Our Philosophy
Our coaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity are perishable attainments that can easily be achieved or lost based on the rituals, habits, and commitments of the individual. Fitness is a journey that demands consistent dedication and attention. The more time and effort put into prioritizing the pursuit of optimal health the greater the quality and longevity of life for the individual.
MEET OUR
Fully Qualified Instructors
The heart and soul of Raise the Bar is the husband and wife fitness duo, Brian & Jenny that have created a unique training experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the area. The attention to client detail has enabled them to transform hundreds of lives from teens to seniors. With each year the gym has been in business they have evolved and modeled their service offerings off of best practices and education and most importantly the library of consistent client results and testimonials.
Brian Sweeney
ABOUT BRIAN
Brian has an extensive Army background and is rooted in the culture, camaraderie, and accountability the military affords which comes through in his training style.
Affectionately dubbed “The Warden,” Brian is known for getting the most from you physically to push you past your limits.
In addition to managing gym operations and working on the gym floor, Brian lends his expertise to corporate initiatives by speaking on the topics of health, nutrition, and sports performance. Additionally, Brian contributes to the technical development and product expansion of the P90X Live brand as a Beachbody Format Expert.
Brian has been featured as the talent lead in over two dozen Beachbody P90X Live videos, as well as appearances in Xbox Fitness, Fitness on Demand, Beachbody on Demand, and the fitness reality, show The 20’s.
Awards and recognition: 2015, 2016,& 2017 Best of Prince William (Personal Trainer); 2016 Beachbody Educator of the Year.
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) – Personal Trainer
International Society of Sports Nutrition – Certified Sports Nutrition (CISSN)
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) – Corrective Exercise
Poliquin BioSignature – Level II
Precision Nutrition – Level II
USA Weightlifting – Sports Performance and Advanced Coach
CrossFit – Level I & Level 2
Beachbody, LLC – Master Trainer P90X Live
Beachbody, LLC – Format Expert
Jenny Sweeney
ABOUT JENNY
Jenny, better known as the Jeneral within the walls of RTB, has an extensive background in gymnastics and dance and enjoys coaching her classes with a permanent (and very genuine) smile on her face. She believes fitness should be challenging, community-driven and most of all, FUN!
Favorite Quote:
Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! – Rocky Balboa
Aerobics & Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Certified Personal Trainer
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)
CrossFit Level I
CrossFit Kids
USA Weightlifting Level 1
RockTape® FMT Basic & Performance
Insanity®
P90X®
Dave S
ABOUT DAVE
Dave doesn’t like to write bios and would rather be working out in the mornings and teaching classes at night. He has spearheaded the Bull Run Teens Program which has had amazing growth and proves how hard work and discipline can be taught to kids.
His background in athletics was somewhat limited before coming to Raise the Bar given his intense work schedule but is now CrossFit certified and teaching regularly while also giving his fellow athletes a run for their money in the daily workouts.
CrossFit Coach CF L1
Amanda T
ABOUT AMANDA
Amanda grew up in Northern Virginia and has been involved in a variety of sports and fitness for years. She is a high school English teacher by day and a coach by night. She loves helping students and athletes reach their fullest potential and provide them with the motivation and support they need to get there. She strives to coach classes that make working out a fun and positive experience. Amanda has her group fitness certification from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).
Group Fitness Instructor
Sam F
ABOUT SAM
Sam originally hails from Durban, South Africa. She left in 1998 and has lived in London, New York, Kabul, and now in Northern Virginia. Sam has always had an interest in fitness and tries to do a 5k fun run every weekend. Her real love of fitness grew when she joined RtB as a client and within a few months began instructing. In her other life, Sam is an instructor in the safety and security industry for a large international organization, helping adults learn how to stay safe while traveling domestically and internationally. The majority of her clients live in and travel to some of the most volatile areas of the world.
Sam’s goal in life is to provide those around her with the tools to be more effective in life through her work as a security training and as a coach at RtB. She will help you push yourself harder in the gym and high five you at the end.
Mo
ABOUT MO
A native of Southern California and having served in the United States Navy, fitness has always been part of Mo’s life. After becoming frustrated with other gyms, Mo joined Raise the Bar/Bull Run CrossFit back in 2015 looking for something different. After one visit, he was hooked by the tremendous sense of community the gym prides itself on and has been a dedicated member ever since. Inspired with the desire to better himself and others, Mo decided to further contribute to the community by becoming a Flexx / Fiire coach in 2018 and is so grateful for the opportunity to be part of this outstanding team.
USA Weightlifting Level 1 (2018)
National Federation of Professional Trainers Certified Personal Trainer (2014)
Chris R
ABOUT CHRIS
A late starter into fitness at the age of 40, Christopher started trail running and has never stopped, traveling the tri-state area for most races. A year of RtB Bootcamp followed into present CrossFit has him reaching his goal of ultramarathon running. A professional photographer for 30 years, Christopher’s photos and video grace our website with visuals triumphantly representing the dedication of all our athletes. He is the sole Photographer & Videographer at Raise the Bar and we are proud to say that a majority of all our visuals come from his lens.
Shaunna C
ABOUT SHAUNNA
A native of San Diego, Shaunna is no stranger to sports and fitness. Growing up, she played softball and ventured into volleyball, basketball, and track in high school. She then rowed crew in college.
Shaunna served in the Navy for 24 years, most if that in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving community where fitness was and continued to be, a lifestyle. She also explored the martial arts realm, becoming a black belt in Hwardo.
Wanting to make a lifestyle change, she signed up for a 6-week challenge, joining Raise the Bar/Bull Run CrossFit in 2018 and tried CrossFit for the first time. She was immediately hooked by the challenging workouts, the camaraderie, and the sense of community. After a year of transformation through lifestyle change, both nutritionally and physically, Shaunna wanted to become a coach so she can help others to reach their health and fitness goals.
Christine B
ABOUT CHRISTINE
Christine is a native New Yorker. She has lived in Northern Virginia for 6 years but can’t seem the lose her accent. Her enthusiasm for fitness began in her 1980s Long Island living room, where her mother
would exercise to Jane Fonda on VHS. Christine has always loved fitness and her passion has evolved over the years from avid runner to Bootcamp to CrossFit. Her 6 am workout is the best part of her day and drives her to be better both in and out of the gym.
Christine’s goal is to spread her love of fitness and help instill that passion in others.
