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Hey there! 
I’m Amy Karas, coach, mom of two, millennial, and founder of Refinery Strength Collective in Altoona, Iowa.
I help women build strength that lasts. Not just in the gym, but in everyday life. My approach is faith-forward, grit-built, and all about helping you feel confident in your body (without the burnout).
Around here, we lift heavy, laugh often, and keep grace at the center of it all. 💪☕✨

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Autoimmunebench pressbone densitybusinesscompound liftsconfidenceconsistancydeadliftexercisefaithgoal settinggracegratitudeHashimoto'sholidayholiday fitnesshypertrophylongevitymenopausemetabolismmindsetmotivationmythsoverhead pressperimenopausepersonal trainerpersonal trainingpower trainingresiliencerowsquatStrength Trainingtop 5

Meet Amy Karas

Hi, I’m Amy Karas—coach, mom, and believer in grit built over time. I help women cultivate durable strength through smart, compassionate training. After years coaching diverse women, I saw how many were under-served by one-size-fits-all fitness—especially those with autoimmune conditions or shifting seasons like postpartum or perimenopause. Refinery Strength Collective was born to change that.

Creds & Lived Insight:
  • NASM-CPT, Girls Gone Strong L1
  • Specialty: Autoimmune-aware, female physiology, power development
  • Philosophy: Faith-forward, science-driven, client-led
Values:
  • Dignity First – You are not your diagnosis or decade.
  • Evidence & Empathy – Data + lived experience guide us.
  • Progress Over Perfection – We refine; we don’t punish.
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