Jason Henderson

Over the years, CrossFit has become much more to me than a way to stay in shape. It has become one of the primary ways I invest in my health so I can continue showing up for the people and things that matter most to me. I didn’t start out as someone who was naturally fit. When I was 39, I weighed around 230 pounds, with very little of that being lean muscle. My blood pressure and cholesterol were moving in the wrong direction, and I was told medication might be in my future. Before going that route, I decided to see what consistent physical activity could do. A friend recommended CrossFit, so I gave it a try. It changed the trajectory of my health. By my 41st birthday, I was in significantly better shape, my health markers had returned to healthy ranges, and I no longer needed to consider medication. At 42, I even took first place in two local Masters competitions. That was about a decade ago now, and while competing was fun and gave me goals to chase, my reasons for doing CrossFit have evolved quite a bit since then. These days, I’m far less concerned about where I finish on the leaderboard. I want to be strong, capable, and healthy enough to keep doing the things I love for as long as possible. I want to travel with my wife, be active with my kids, take on new adventures, and have the physical capacity to serve and help others. CrossFit gives me a practical way to keep preparing for that kind of life. Coaching became a natural extension of that. I’ve been coaching CrossFit as a CF-L1 for more than a decade, earning my CF-L2 in 2024. One of my favorite parts of coaching is helping someone accomplish something they didn’t think they could do. I especially love Olympic lifting and the process of finding the right cue or adjustment that suddenly makes a movement click. Whether someone is an experienced athlete or walking into a CrossFit gym for the first time, I enjoy helping them make progress toward their own goals. I’ve been part of several CrossFit gyms over the years, and what stands out to me most about CrossFit Goose Creek is the people. There is a humility and kindness here that makes the community incredibly approachable. Some of our strongest athletes are also the first people to encourage someone who’s just getting started. That’s the kind of culture I want to be part of and help strengthen as a coach. Outside the gym, my wife and I have two children, and Nashville has been home since 2012. I grew up in Virginia and have lived in several places over the years, including New York, Germany, and Kansas City. My work and family life keep me busy, which makes me appreciate even more what CrossFit provides: a place to keep challenging myself, stay healthy, build relationships, and hopefully help other people do the same. For me, CrossFit isn’t ultimately about being the strongest or fastest person in the room. It’s about maintaining the health and capacity to live a full life, serve the people around me, and keep saying “yes” to the things that matter.