We love what we do, and we do it with passion. Our team is our family, our support, our refuge. We look forward to growing stronger with you.
Jesse Vezina
Head Coach, Club Director
Specialties and Education: USAW National Referee, USAW National Coach, USAW L3, Chinese Weightlifting L1, Iron Athlete , Takano Intern, MS, CSCS
Favorite Workout: Heavy Snatches
Bio: A lifelong athlete, Jesse competed at a high level in numerous sports throughout adolescence and high school. A state track and field champion, black belt in karate, and all-state wrestling honors were just a few of his accomplishments. He earned his B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Tampa and his M.S. in Exercise & Wellness from Arizona State University., where he was as a Lecturer in the Sports Science and Human Performance Program. He has competed on a National level in Weightlifting since 2016 and has coached at both the National and International Level. Jesse holds numerous titles, such as National Referee, National Coach, Masters National Champion (3x), Masters Silver Medalist (2x), and Masters World Champion. Jesse, along with his wife Natalie, founded Sanctuary Barbell, a USA Weightlifting affiliated club, in 2018.
IG: @jvezina_
Email: jesse@sanctuarybarbell.com
Natalie Vezina
Weightlifting and Nutrition Coach
Favorite Workout: Back Squat, Jerk Recoveries, & Earthquake Bar Drills
Specialties and Education: USAW L3, USAW National Coach, USAW National Referee, Chinese Weightlifting L1, BSW, PN1
Bio: Graduating from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 2013, Natalie found solace and peace in her workouts at the gym. She trained for her first 10k under the supervision of her husband and coach in 2011. In 2012 she became a certified Zumba instructor, and a recreational weight lifter. Natalie got introduced to Olympic Weightlifting in 2015, when her husband decided to compete at the Arizona State Championships, becoming competitive shortly thereafter. In April 2016, she stepped on the platform for the first time to compete in Olympic Weightlifting. Since then, she has competed in American Open Series 1 in Reno (2016), American Open Series 3 in Vegas (2018), and multiple local meets in Arizona and California, as well as the Gemalyn Crobsy Fitness Expo where she took home silver (2017) in the Philippines. In 2021, she reached the second highest state and qualified for the American Open Finals. In her first year as a Masters Athlete (2022), she placed third at her first Masters National Championship, set meet records in the Clean and Jerk and the Total at the Howard Cohen American Masters, and requalified for the American Open Finals as a Senior! She has had the chance to work with national and international level coaches both in the US and in the Philippines. The Gym and the Kitchen are her Sanctuaries, and she hopes that she can help you find your strength in both.
IG: @coach.natat
Email: natalie@sanctuarybarbell.com
Welcome To Your Sanctuary 