Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcos Guedea.
Hi Marcos, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started lifting weights at 17 years old in my hometown of Sabinas, Coahuila, Mexico. Like many people, my initial motivation was simple: I wanted to improve my physique and feel more confident. What started as a personal goal quickly turned into a lifelong passion.
In the beginning, I made every mistake possible. There was very little information available, social media was not what it is today, and fitness was not nearly as common in my community. Through years of trial and error, I gradually learned more about training, nutrition, and what it truly takes to create lasting results.
As my own transformation became visible, friends and family began asking for help. Coaching them taught me an important lesson: every person is different. What works for one person may not work for another.
That realization inspired me to pursue personal training professionally.
While earning my degree in Elementary Education and working as a school teacher, I also completed my personal training education and certification in Mexico. I spent three years working as a personal trainer there, gaining valuable experience coaching people with different goals, abilities, and backgrounds.
Teaching children taught me patience, communication, and the ability to meet people where they are. Those lessons continue to influence the way I coach today and have become some of the most valuable tools in my career.
I first came to Austin in 2016 and officially made it my home in 2018. Moving to the United States presented a new challenge: building a career in a different language and culture. Here I learned that coaching is not just about knowledge it is about communication, trust, and building meaningful relationships.
Learning to coach in English while adapting to a new environment became one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
One of the moments I am most proud of in my career was being able to successfully transfer my knowledge and coaching skills from Spanish to English, allowing me to help people from different backgrounds and cultures while continuing to grow as a coach myself.
Today, I coach clients primarily at Iron Vault Gym in Austin, where I’ve had the privilege of helping people become stronger, healthier, and more confident. While I enjoy the science behind strength training, what I enjoy most is helping people build strength and muscle so they can feel healthier, more capable, and more confident in their everyday lives.
Outside the gym, I enjoy hiking, reading, spending time outdoors, and competing in powerlifting. These activities continue to challenge me personally and help me better understand the journey many of my clients are on.
For me, fitness is about much more than exercise. It’s about helping people improve their quality of life, build confidence, and discover what they are truly capable of achieving.
Seeing someone become stronger not only physically, but mentally and emotionally is what continues to inspire me every day.
I was also fortunate to grow up with a mother who taught me the value of empathy and genuinely listening to people, qualities that continue to shape the way I connect with my clients today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges was moving to the United States and building a career in a language that was completely different from my own. When I first arrived, I had to learn not only how to communicate in English, but also how to coach, connect, and build trust with people in a different culture.
At first, I was very aware of every mistake I made. Like many people learning a new language, I sometimes worried more about saying things perfectly than simply communicating. Over time, I learned that genuine connection matters more than perfection, and that confidence comes through practice and experience.
Another challenge was building my client base from scratch. Like any new coach, I often wondered where the next client would come from. Fortunately, I focused on providing the best experience I could for each person I worked with. Over time, many of my clients began referring their friends and family, which allowed my business to grow naturally through trust and relationships.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought another unexpected challenge. Much of the fitness industry shifted online almost overnight. Since I enjoy the personal connection that comes from working face-to-face with clients, adapting to virtual coaching required me to learn new skills and step outside my comfort zone. Looking back, that experience helped me grow as a coach and allowed me to continue helping people in different ways.
Today, I am grateful for those challenges. Learning a new language, adapting to new environments, and overcoming obstacles has kept me humble and constantly learning. Those experiences continue to shape the way I coach and connect with people every day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a personal trainer based in Austin, Texas, currently working with clients both in person at Iron Vault Gym and online. I specialize in strength training, muscle building, body composition, and helping people develop sustainable fitness habits that fit their lifestyle.
While I enjoy working with a wide variety of clients, I am especially passionate about helping people become stronger, more confident, and more capable in everyday life.
Whether someone’s goal is to build muscle, improve health, gain confidence or simply move better and feel better, I enjoy creating a personalized plan that fits their individual needs.
One of the things I’m most proud of is being able to help people in a language that wasn’t originally mine. When I first moved to the United States, communicating confidently in English was one of my biggest challenges. Today, I have the opportunity to coach, educate, and build meaningful relationships with clients in a completely different language and culture. That experience taught me humility, patience, and the value of continuous learning.
What sets me apart is my combination of education, experience, and genuine connection. Before becoming a full-time personal trainer, I worked as an elementary school teacher. That experience taught me patience, communication, and how to meet people where they are. Today, those same skills help me coach clients from all backgrounds and fitness levels.
I believe great coaching is not just about sets, reps, and exercise science. It is also about listening, understanding people, building trust, and helping them stay consistent through life’s challenges.
Outside of coaching, I enjoy powerlifting, hiking, reading, spending time in nature, and continuing to learn about health, performance, and personal development. I believe fitness should enhance life, not take away from it, and I try to bring that philosophy into every client relationship.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned is that successful coaching is not just about knowledge, exercise selection, or building the perfect program. It is about understanding the person in front of you.
Early in my career, I thought results came mostly from having the right plan. Over time, I realized that every person has a different lifestyle, schedule, motivation, stress level, and set of responsibilities.
What works perfectly for one person may not work for another.
I learned that listening is just as important as teaching. Building trust and creating an environment where clients feel comfortable being honest allows us to work together more effectively and create solutions that fit their real lives.
I have also learned that consistency matters more than perfection. A realistic plan that someone can follow for months or years will always be more effective than the perfect plan that only lasts a few weeks.
That lesson continues to guide the way I coach today: meet people where they are, understand their needs, and help them build sustainable habits that improve their health, strength, and confidence over time.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcosguedea_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarKos.S.G
