Meet Alex Ceban | Calisthenics Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Ceban and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Back in 2018, when I was just beginning to consider opening a calisthenics-focused fitness studio, my primary motivation was to fill a void in the market by offering a very unique as well as high quality service. There were essentially no options available for complete beginners who simply wanted to get stronger and perform basic exercises like pull-ups and push-ups, or for more advance clients to master handstands, pistol squats or muscle-ups. My goal was to provide services to such people and help them progress in their calisthenics journey.

But of course behind my thoughts there was a lot of passion for calisthenics that has been carrying me forward this whole time. I think there are so many great ways to get stronger, but I personally find calisthenics to be the most fun, versatile and safest way to do it. I am very dedicated to sharing the knowledge about bodyweight strength training with as many people as possible.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Well, I think the biggest and main thing that sets us apart is that we offer a very unique way of practicing strength training – progressive calisthenics. It is such an incredibly unique and fun way to get stronger and healthier. Our beginner clients get to accomplish things like being able to do a pull-up for the first time in their lives, or improve their push-ups, for example. Our intermediate clients get to reach goals, such as doing unassisted handstands, pistol squats, and muscle-ups. And our advanced clients master skills like front lever, human flag, and unassisted handstand push-up.

Most of the time when people work on their strength gains, it’s a very straightforward process where they either add more weight to what they’re lifting or add more reps. And don’t get me wrong, that does work very well, but it can also get boring. With progressive calisthenics, aside from increasing volume and intensity, there are progressions for every step. Because of that, exercises are gradually changing towards more challenging variations. So while the movement is relatively similar, the exercises are different, if that makes sense.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my friends visits Denver for the first time, I would first of all take them out to the mountains. Obviously, that’s the biggest highlight. Denver culture revolves around skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking, camping, and mountain biking in the summer.

But when it comes down to taking them around the city, I definitely have some good recommendations. For food, I have two great choices. The first one is Buckhorn Exchange—the oldest restaurant in Denver and arguably one of the best. That place is very focused on meats, but since I love a good plant-based meal as well, I would also take them to Somebody People— it’s a family-owned restaurant, and these guys make incredible real plant-based food that is so delicious. I don’t drink alcohol, so I’m not the right person to give recommendations for drinks, though there is no shortage of great speakeasies in Denver.

Of course, visiting Denver wouldn’t be complete without going to a show at the Red Rocks. That is an item on a bucket list for so many people, and the energy, the views, and the acoustics are well worth the visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been fortunate to learn from knowledgeable and passionate fitness experts. It all started in 2012 when I joined a gym as a brand new personal trainer. My manager was strict about education and pushed me to obtain numerous certifications (I currently hold 15) and attend workshops with renowned strength coaches from all across the country.

Beyond my formal training, I had the privilege of working alongside amazing trainers who were highly knowledgeable and generous in sharing their expertise. We formed a competitive group of coaches, which motivated us to design the best training programs possible for our clients. We all strived to make sure their form looked great and they progressed rapidly and safely towards their goals.

In the business side, I owe a significant debt to remarkable writers who published very informative books that explained the financial aspects of owning the business. Their insights provided me with confidence and fueled my ideas. Additionally, I was fortunate to find mentors among some of my clients, who were succesfull business owners and offered valuable advice and guided me in the right direction, helping me focus on what truly matters.

Last but not least, I want to say thank you to incredible coaches that have been helping grow our business. Arash, Matt, Thomas and Ahmed – thank you so much for all of your hard work and dedication to excellence!

Website: https://www.capratraining.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capra.calisthenics/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capracalisthenics/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capra.calisthenics/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/capra-bodyweight-training-denver-5

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@capra.calisthenics