Common Ground Training was founded by Gannon Seifert, a CrossFit Certified Trainer with thousands of hours coaching athletes of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. What began as a passion for training and performance eventually became something much bigger — a vision to create a space where people could come together to improve their health, challenge themselves, and grow both physically and mentally through training.
Located in Lexington, Ohio, Common Ground was built around one simple belief: fitness is better when people do it together. From the beginning, the goal was never to create a gym only for elite athletes or experienced fitness enthusiasts. It was to build an environment where anyone could walk through the doors and feel like they belong. Whether someone is stepping into a gym for the very first time, returning after years away from fitness, or competing at a high level, every person deserves coaching, support, structure, and a community that genuinely wants to see them succeed.
At Common Ground, training is about far more than simply getting through a workout. Fitness becomes a tool for building discipline, resilience, confidence, and self-awareness. The challenges faced inside the gym create opportunities to better understand how you respond under pressure, how you adapt when things get difficult, and how you continue moving forward even when discomfort shows up. Those lessons don’t stop when class ends — they carry into careers, relationships, parenthood, athletics, and everyday life.
Our programming reflects that philosophy. Classes combine functional fitness, strength training, conditioning, bodybuilding, and accessory work to create a balanced approach to long-term health and performance. We believe each piece plays an important role. Strength training builds resilience and capability. Conditioning improves heart health, endurance, and recovery. Functional movement teaches the body to move well through real-world patterns. Bodybuilding and accessory work help strengthen smaller muscle groups, support joint health, and keep the body durable over time. Together, these methods create a complete training experience designed to help people feel strong, capable, and healthy for the long haul.
Everything we do is designed with progression and sustainability in mind. Workouts are scalable to all fitness levels, and coaching is centered around helping people move safely, train intentionally, and continue improving over time. We are not interested in quick fixes or short-term motivation. We care about helping people build habits, confidence, and consistency that positively impact every area of life.
More than anything, Common Ground exists to create connection. It’s a place where people encourage each other, celebrate progress together, and continue showing up not only for themselves, but for the people around them. Friendships are built here. Confidence is built here. Growth happens here.
This is a place to train together.
Gannon Seifert
Gannon Seifert is the Owner and Head Coach of Common Ground Training. With thousands of hours of coaching experience working with individuals of all ages and fitness levels, Gannon is passionate about helping people build strength, confidence, and long-term health through purposeful training.
As a CrossFit Certified Trainer, he specializes in combining functional fitness, strength training, conditioning, and bodybuilding to create well-rounded programs that help members improve both performance and quality of life. His coaching philosophy is built around meeting people where they are, providing the right level of challenge, and helping them develop sustainable habits that lead to lasting results.
Gannon believes fitness is about more than physical results. Training provides opportunities to develop discipline, resilience, self-awareness, and confidence that extend far beyond the gym floor. His goal is to help people not only become fitter, but also more capable in everyday life.
Through Common Ground Training, Gannon has created a community where beginners and experienced athletes alike can train together, work toward meaningful goals, and discover what they're truly capable of.
Erin friedermann
Erin Friedermann brings more than 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry and a passion for helping people become stronger, healthier, and more confident through training. As a 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher and experienced fitness coach, Erin has worked with individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels throughout her career.
Her coaching philosophy is centered around meeting people where they are, helping them build confidence, and creating an environment where everyone feels supported and capable of success. Erin enjoys working with members at every stage of their fitness journey, from those stepping into a gym for the first time to experienced athletes looking to continue progressing.
At Common Ground Training, Erin coaches our group classes and helps members improve strength, conditioning, movement quality, and overall fitness. Her positive energy, experience, and ability to connect with people make her an important part of the Common Ground community.
Erin believes fitness should be challenging, rewarding, and accessible to everyone. Her goal is to help members not only achieve results in the gym, but also develop the confidence and habits that carry over into everyday life.
RAE Lee
Rae Lee brings over seven years of experience in group fitness, personal training, and nutrition coaching to the Common Ground Training team. Originally from Bellville, Ohio, and most recently coaching along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Rae is a former Active Duty Army veteran with a passion for helping people build strength, confidence, and lifelong healthy habits.
Rae holds several industry-leading certifications, including CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2), Precision Nutrition Level 1 Coach (PN-L1), and Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coach. Her diverse background allows her to work with a wide range of individuals, from those beginning their fitness journey to experienced athletes looking to maximize their performance.
As a coach, Rae is passionate about creating an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and empowered to reach their full potential. She believes fitness should enhance every aspect of life and focuses on helping members develop the strength, confidence, and habits needed to stay active and healthy for the long term.
Whether she's coaching classes, working one-on-one with clients, or helping members improve their nutrition and lifestyle habits, Rae is committed to helping people become the strongest and healthiest version of themselves.