Certification badge for Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES) from the Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist organization, featuring a gold and black color scheme, with the word 'CERTIFIED' at the bottom.

Who we are

We’re Jenna + Kary.

We love lifting weights, golfing, learning new things, and building things that bring people together. Fitness is a huge part of our lives, and we believe fitness makes everyone's lives better. That’s exactly what we want to share with Barbells & Birdies.

A place where people feel supported, not judged.

A place where showing up is easier and a lot more fun.

A place where health, strength, and even your golf game can improve side by side.

Between the two of us, we’ve spent years coaching and running a gym, and we’ve learned a lot about what really helps people stick with fitness: accountability, relationships, and having a team that cares.

That’s what we’re building here in Galesburg — a space that feels like yours the moment you walk in.

A family of three, a man, woman, and a young girl, standing outdoors on a brick path next to a colorful painted buffalo statue. The man is holding the girl, who is reaching out to touch the buffalo. There are trees and a wooden building in the background.

Kary

An Air Force Veteran with a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, and TPI certified. He’s coached everyone from Air Force servicemembers to youth athletes and everyday adults.

He’s worked in group training, athletic performance, and one-on-one coaching, always focused on building programs that get real results while keeping people motivated and supported.

Kary brings both expertise and enthusiasm to every session, creating an environment where people can thrive.

Whether you're looking to improve your golf game, lose weight, hit the bodybuilding stage, or pass a PT test, Kary's experience, education, and care will get you there.

A man in a tan baseball cap and gray t-shirt takes a golf swing in an indoor simulator with a large screen showing a golf course and water in the background.

Jenna

Jenna is a certified personal trainer and seasoned gym owner with a passion for helping people build stronger, healthier lives through smart, sustainable training.

She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and holds advanced certifications in pre- and postnatal coaching, menopause and metabolic health, and self-defense.

With years of hands-on coaching experience, Jenna blends evidence-based programming with a supportive, relationship-driven approach that empowers clients to grow inside and outside the gym.

She believes fitness should feel approachable, individualized, and fun, and she’s committed to creating an environment where every person feels capable and confident in their journey.

A woman giving a presentation in a classroom or lecture hall, with a slide projected on a screen behind her that reads 'Can Body Positivity and Fat Loss Coexist?' A black chalkboard with handwritten notes and numbers is visible on the side.

Contact us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!