Mindset coaching, community, and events for strength athletes and powerlifters.
You work your ass off in training.....
Yet, there is something missing - a level of satisfaction that is just out of reach
Let's make that a thing of the past!
Experience the shift!
Community
FREE to all. My gift to back to the pursuit of strength. Connect with like minded people, learn how to gain MORE from your pursuit of strength with exclusive community content.
Educational Course
An online course designed to help guide you on the very process of training intentionally. No longer wavering from your emotions. Now driven by meaning and purpose.
THE Experience
This is where the shift really happens. A custom curated event designed to truly transform your journey in the pursuit of strength. This goes beyond the program and gets to the CORE of our pursuit!
30+
Years of Training
15+
Years of Coaching
3
World Champions Coached
2
Masters World Championships Won
The power of INTENTION:
Emptiness
PRs come and go, but the excitement fades. Progress doesn’t feel as fulfilling as expected. Training with a clear why creates purpose, meaning, and lasting satisfaction. The journey feels rewarding, not hollow.
Motivation
Some days you’re fired up; other days you feel lost, bored, or disconnected. Intention builds direction and focus, turning training into a conscious choice. No longer a mood-driven task. Purpose fuels consistency.
Anxiety & Fear
Many people are overcome by nervousness before heavy lifts, fear of missing, stress around performance.
Intentional tools shift anxiety into excitement and usable energy. Transforming pressure into power and confidence.
Burnout
Pushing hard without awareness leads to exhaustion, frustration, and stalled progress. Intentionality balances effort and recovery, helping you train smarter, listen to your body, and grow sustainably.
Negative Self-Talk
Doubt, comparison, and inner criticism derail momentum and progress. Awareness and emotional tools help you recognize and redirect those patterns. Creating inner dialogue that sets you free to pursue your goals without internal resistance
One Dimensional
Strength improves, but life outside the gym doesn’t. Intentional training builds skills, focus, resilience, self-awareness. These skills elevate relationships, work, confidence, and overall quality of life.
INTENTION opens the door to CREATE!
The moment The Intentional Athlete was born....
The Intentional Athlete was born from decades of movement, strength, and self-discovery.
For Ross, it started in a weight room at age 12. For Vanessa, it began even earlier. A lifetime of ballet and human movement. Both spent years chasing the highs of personal records and the sting of missed lifts. Like leaves in the wind, they were carried by outcomes. Euphoric in victory, defeated in loss.
Everything changed in October 2024.
When Ross won his first IPF Masters World Championship, the real breakthrough wasn’t the gold medal. It was the realization, sparked by Vanessa’s insight, that true success lies beyond validation.
That was the turning point.
The pursuit became untethered from outcome. The goals stayed big, but the pressure transformed into possibility.
This is what intentional training is about:
→ Freedom to pursue, not prove.
→ Joy in the journey, not just the result.
→ Strength that goes far beyond the barbell.
From that moment, The Intentional Athlete Experience was born — to guide others toward that same freedom and fulfillment through the pursuit of strength.
Hey, I'm Ross Leppala
Ross Leppala is a two-time, reigning 83kg Masters I IPF World Champion. He’s known for discipline, resilience, and a steady pursuit of excellence. As a coach and marketing manager at Reactive Training Systems, Ross blends technical skill with a deep understanding of human performance to help athletes grow on and off the platform.
He’s also a public speaker with Toastmasters International and host of The Intentional Athlete Podcast, where he explores how mindset and mental health shape the pursuit of strength.
Outside coaching and competition, Ross is a devoted homeschool dad, nurturing curiosity, strength, and a love of lifelong learning in his daughter.
Hey, I'm Vanessa Gale
From the age of four, movement was Vanessa’s first language. What began with dance grew into a lifelong study of the body, mind, and spirit.
Dr. Vanessa Gale is a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in NetworkSpinal, helping people reconnect with their bodies and tap into their natural capacity for healing and transformation. With a 200-hour yoga certification and training in Somato Respiratory Integration, she guides clients toward alignment, resilience, and deeper self-awareness.
As a USAPL Powerlifting Coach, athlete, and national referee, Vanessa blends strength and wellness, showing athletes how mindful connection amplifies both performance and personal growth.
Outside her professional work, Vanessa is a devoted homeschool mom, nurturing curiosity, courage, and intentional growth in her daughter — embodying the same blend of strength and grace she teaches every day.
Intentional Training
Discover what the process of training with intention creates for you. An elevated experience is just around the corner
Categories
Cultivate your Why
Movement
Passive vs. Active Tension
Intentional Training
Energy in Motion - Emotion
Tension Dissipation
April 17, 2024
Insights on Crafting Memorable Conference
Proactively envisioned multimedia based expertise and cross-media growth strategies. Seamlessly visualize quality intellectual capital without...
April 17, 2024
Insights on Crafting Memorable Conference
Proactively envisioned multimedia based expertise and cross-media growth strategies. Seamlessly visualize quality intellectual capital without...
About The Event
The Intentional Athlete Experience
This isn’t just about better training. It’s about unlocking a deeper level of strength and purpose. Participants gain clarity in their “why,” practical tools for focused progress, and the ability to turn pressure into power. You’ll leave with a stronger mind–body connection, renewed confidence, and freedom in your pursuit of growth, both on and off the platform.
View event details to learn when our next experience begins.
Date: TBD
Location: Powder Springs, GA
The Community
Every pursuit in life is amplified by community. At our core, we all seek a sense belonging. This is created when we connect with others through giving and receiving our unique gifts. One of mine is sharing the intentional pursuit of strength.
This space is for lifters who want more than just PRs. Together, we pursue strength with clarity, purpose, and meaning. Learning, growing, and supporting one another along the way.
This community is completely FREE — my gift to you.
What others are saying
“The most value I have found is, the feedback on training, not just the physical aspect,but the mental aspect as well.
To hold myself accountable, and really think about, is this the weight I want or the weight I earned.” - Meshal Behbehani
“Ross combines the best of both worlds as a coach. He has the caring, human element, where he wants to connect with the lifter as a person and be a part of their journey to success on a personal level. But he also brings his analytical engineering side to the table. He is willing to look hard at the evidence and data of what is working and not working with each individual lifter and methodically try different ideas while communicating with the lifter to figure out the best plan.” - John Irwin
“Definitely Ross' ability to see me as a person and not just an athlete i really believe that's been huge in me coming back from my injury.” - Marc Pedersen
Having a coach with your level of experience and thoughtfulness gives me a great amount of confidence in the training we do. You are also thoughtful beyond what I expect out of a powerlifting coach, you are very aware of the challenges I face in my everyday life and always offer support to help me both in and out of the gym.” - Ed Minelli