Meet the trainer behind The Academy
Lj Connell Jr - CPT
I am a biology major on the path of becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and I bring over 15 years of experience as an athlete along with 7 years of dedicated weight training. I have spent my life competing, training, and pushing my body through every phase of growth from early development to college athletics at the Division II football level.
Along the way, I went through major injuries including ACL reconstruction and spent more time in physical therapy clinics than I ever expected. I have been on both sides of the process, first as a patient learning how to walk, move, and trust my body again and later as a student shadowing licensed physical therapists and studying how the body heals and adapts.
Those experiences changed how I approach training. Seeing both performance and rehabilitation up close showed me how important proper movement, progressive loading, and recovery really are. That is what led me to study biology and pursue physical therapy while coaching others along the way.
Today, as a certified personal trainer and CPR certified coach, I use what I have learned through sports, rehab, and education to help people improve their strength, conditioning, and movement with intention and care.
mission statement
Ares Academy is built on the belief that every person is fighting a battle against our own doubt, weakness, injury, and the limits that we place on ourselves. We exist to help people win that battle through disciplined, intelligent training that strengthens both the body and the mind.
Our mission is to guide each client toward strength gain, athletic performance, fat loss, injury prevention, injury recovery, and nutritional guidance using science-based programming, proper mechanics, and consistent effort.
This is where your struggle becomes your strength and where you learn to take control of your body, your confidence, and your future. This is what it means to be part of the Academy.
Free Consultation and movement assesment
Every new client at Ares Academy begins with a free consultation and movement assessment. This assessment will also serve as a full workout to give you a taste of what it is like to workout at the academy. To book a consultation reach out via call or text at 267-736-3904
During this session, we will
• Evaluate your movement patterns
• Review your lifting and training experience
• Discuss any past or current injuries
• Identify your goals for strength, performance, and fat loss
This allows me to create a program that is
• Personally tailored to your body
• Built around how you move
• Designed to support long term progress and injury prevention