Our Team
We are a team of dedicated professionals on a mission to help you transform your life. We understand no two bodies are alike and will work with you to get fit the right way at the right pace.
Ben Higgins
Owner and Head Coach
“I started Athletic Instinct to give people a fun and effective way to train.”
Specializations
Sports Conditioning
Unconventional Training
Group Training
Ben has been fueled by his passion for fitness at a very young age. It started with a basketball and the willingness to experience hard work and develop a good work ethic.
Ben is so excited to help anyone achieve anything that they put their mind to. Where he first started college at NHTI he developed a business called Itrain Hoops. He realized the love he had for training others to become better. So Graduating from Plymouth State University and receiving a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance he decided to expand his teachings not just to basketball players but to anyone who is currently an athlete or someone who wants to train like one.
Ben understands that life can get stressful and workouts can be mundane. So he started Athletic Instinct! A fun way to get a great workout with tools and implements to get the body as strong as can be while remaining extremely functional. He is so excited to take you on as a client and can’t wait to meet you!
Ben is currently accepting new personal training clients. Please use the form below to contact Ben with some information about yourself and he will reach out directly.
Emily Berry
Team Member
Specializations
Functional training
Interval training
Overall wellness/Nutrition
I started my fitness journey in my freshman year of college, I found myself physically and mentally feeling drained and unwell. One of my best friends was a yoga instructor, and taught HIIT classes at the college gym and urged me to try. I began going everyday to her HIIT classes and yoga classes at night and found my physical and mental health improve drastically after being consistent with my fitness routine.
After doing strictly HIIT for almost 3 years, I eventually started to learn more about strength training, lifting heavy weights and the benefits they both have for your body. I eventually learned to listen to my body to find the perfect balance of HIIT and strength training that felt right to me. Finding that perfect balance of HIIT and strength is one of the reasons I fell in love with AI.
I was so intimidated when my friend first suggested that we try Athletic Instinct because I didn’t think I was “in shape” enough to succeed there. However, after my first class there I fell in love. I fell in love with the atmosphere, the combination of different types of exercises within each workout and how great I felt every single time I left those gym doors. I have found a home at AI, and I feel so honored to be an integral part of this community of bad ass hard working people."
Jordan Meehan
Team Member
Specializations
High Intensity Interval Training
Female Fitness
Glute-Focus Training
Group Training
Jordan started her journey at Athletic Instinct as an outlet to become a healthier, stronger mother to set forth an example to her 3 kids. Through her own transformation she fell in love with the training process and what it means to be a strong female. She is driven to push herself to new limits and is eager to help others reach their full potential as well!
Experiencing what Athletic Instinct has to offer first hand, Jordan has a passion for sharing her journey and knowledge with members. She wants to help you reach your goals not only physically, but mentally as well.
Jordan believes there is always a healthy balance between fitness, nutrition and how to incorporate that into a busy at home life. Whether you work full time, are a parent, or student, finding balance is the key to success and she is here to point you in the right direction and support you along the way.
Jordan runs Strong Sisters Booty Camp. Use the form below to get some more information on upcoming sessions.
Aliza Simpson
Team Member
Specializations
Aliza is a Client Associate for an investment group day and a trainer by night. Her passion is to help improve the lives that she surrounds herself with.
Although she’s not new to the fitness space as she has had quite the career as a D1 Athlete for UNH Basketball.
She has a loving and supporting Fiancé who together they share their family with two Golden Retrievers. Aliza has hinted many times that with permission she could easily parent 10 more Goldens.
Jason McKenna
Team Member
Specializations
I’m a project manager of my family owned construction company.
I also have a loving supportive fiancé who I coach with and have two goldens with lol.
Passionate about my family, faith, and fitness.
I believe in trying to improve every day. Not just in fitness, but in life and as a human. I believe they all go hand and hand.
I try to have a positive impact on everyone I meet!
Something you might not know about me? I hate grapes. It’s a texture thing.
Mandy Barstow
Team Member
Specializations
Group Training
Stretching & Flexibility
Mandy is the owner and director of Studio 109 Dance, Voice & Drama for the past 22 years and has grown up in the dance world. Mandy found a new love for fitness during her journey of trying to “lose” that baby-weight.
In understanding the human body and flexibility, Mandy’s strengths are very much in making sure her clients also understand the importance of a proper warm up, cool down and stretching.
Her understanding of how our muscles connect and work within the body really allows her to share the knowledge on how to prevent or recuperate from an injury.
Mandy’s love for cardio gets her excited to be in the gym and spreading her love and enthusiasm for fitness. She has been actively involved in our town of Rochester, NH for 23 years and has held many different chair positions, currently sitting on the board of directors for the Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
When Mandy is not dancing or working out, you can find her home with her husband and son where she’s almost always cooking up some low-carb natural sugared treats! You can always feel free to ask her for a recipe.