Meet the CrossFit Rising Sun team

At CrossFit Rising Sun in Nashville, TN, we are dedicated to creating a fitness community where everyone can thrive. Our gym combines expert coaching, cutting-edge facilities, and a supportive environment to help you reach your fitness goals. Discover a place where your fitness journey is guided by passion and professionalism.

Free Intro

Our Coaches

Our coaches at CrossFit Rising Sun in Nashville, TN, are more than just trainers; they are passionate professionals committed to your success. Each member of our team brings a wealth of experience and a personalized approach to help you achieve your fitness objectives. With diverse specialties ranging from strength training to wellness, our coaches are here to support and inspire you every step of the way.

Owner Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins

Founder and Owner, CrossFit L2 Coach
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Specializations
USAW Level 1 Olympic Weightlifting Coach
NASM Personal Trainer
Zone Nutrition Coaching
Strength Training
Bodybuilding
Powerlifting
Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, MMA
CrossFit

Kyle Hopkins is the founder, owner, and head coach of Rising Sun Community Fitness. He started his fitness journey 24 years ago after a lifetime of organized sports had come to an end. He is an L2 CrossFit coach, an NASM certified personal trainer, a USAW level 1 olympic lifting coach, and an Outlaw barbell camp attendee, and 5 time bodybuilding competitor. His goal is to apply his 24 years of experience with powerlifting, bodybuilding, intense interval training, sport specific training, CrossFit, and MMA to his business and to give his members the best training and programming experience they can possibly have. His realization of success is to see all of his members and clients meet and surpass their personal goals and to make great friends and have a Hell of a lot of fun doing it!

CrossFit Rising Sun Customer Success Manager Shawna

Shawna Hopkins

Co-Owner, Customer Success Manager
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CrossFit Rising Sun Coach Chelsea Cormier

Chelsea Cormier

General Manager, Head Coach, CrossFit L2 Coach
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Chelsea has been doing CrossFit/Functional Fitness since 2016. A lifelong athlete, Chelsea was a gymnast and a swimmer throughout her childhood. More recently, Chelsea has enjoyed participating in a wide variety of athletics, from kickball and badminton to triathlons. Chelsea coached national and club level swimmers at the University of Florida as well as the Gator Swim Club for age group participants from 2010-2015. In 2015, Chelsea moved to Nashville and coached at Nashville Aquatic Club until 2017. Chelsea became CF Level 1 certified in 2018 and has been coaching Crossfit ever since! Serving on the board of the Nashville Badminton League and the Hotmess Sports League keeps Chelsea very busy, but she loves being involved in organizations that support health and fitness in her community. In her free time, she can be found obsessing over Gator football (or any sport), hanging out with her wife and dogs, and indulging in the occasional bag of pizza rolls.

CrossFit Rising Sun Coach Clelia Stefanini

Clelia Stefanini

CrossFit L2 Coach
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Specializations
OPEX CCP Associate Coach
Head Coach/Operations
Manager of CrossFit 615/URBN Fitness (2015-2020)
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Level 1 Olympic Weightlifting Certification
CrossFit Level 2 Olympic Weightlifting Certification
Burgener Strength Seminar Staff Intern with Mike Burgener (2017, 2018, 2019)
CrossFit Judges Course Certificate (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
OPEX Immersion with James FitzGerald and Jim Crowell (2019)
CrossFit Online Course Scaling
CrossFit Online Course Spot The Flaw
Functional Gymnastics Trainer, CrossFit Preferred Course

Clelia sees the opportunity in every experience to grow, learn, and expand. She is driven to express movement and exercise with a fun and open approach. She understands that all human beings crave strength and health to live a more fulfilled and balanced life and Clelia is delighted to be able to support her clients in their health and fitness journeys. With over 5.5+ years of coaching experience, in both CrossFit Group Classes and in an Individual one-on-one setting, Clelia is thrilled to meet you where you are and build a plan that can enrich and elevate your life.

Jessee Bates

Coach
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Coach Jesse grew up playing baseball, football, and competing in weightlifting and wrestling. After he turned down an opportunity to play collegiate football, he found himself living a less-than-active lifestyle with considerable differences in his overall health. He dove into CrossFit as a way to get moving again, but also to feel like part of a team and work toward specific ‘game-day’ type goals!
After coaching freshman football at his alma mater for a few years, he joined a coaching apprenticeship program and began coaching CrossFit in 2015 then spent his senior capstone with EXOS where he had the opportunity to work with professional and tactical athletes as well as collegiate, teen, and youth athletes in various settings. CrossFit helped Jesse find that missing spark, and he’s eager to bring that to others through his coaching!
-BS in Exercise Science from University of West Florida
-CF L2
-EXOS performance specialist
-HSN certified Nutrition coach
-CF Edu Pregnant & Postpartum
-CF Judges Course 2022-current
CrossFit Rising Sun Coach Shannon Cordell

Shannon Cordell

CrossFit L1 Coach
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Shannon (she/her) started her CrossFit journey in 2012 and within a few classes was hooked. As a Nashville Native (no really – she was born and raised here #unicorn), she grew up playing many different sports throughout her childhood, eventually finding her love for soccer in high school while continuing to push herself in other areas of interest. Today, she is a mother of two kids ages 5 and 7 and works as a Nurse Practitioner in Palliative/Hospice Care. She is passionate about curving the trend of preventable chronic disease deterring one’s ability to reach their full potential. Coaching CrossFit is a perfect avenue for this enthusiasm to come to fruition. Helping others achieve the best version of themselves to increase quality of life and longevity is her goal for each client.

CrossFit Rising Sun Placeholder

Nate Morris

CrossFit L1 Coach
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As an avid sports lover, I played professional hockey for a season with the Fussen Leopards in Fussen Germany. A few years after my hockey career I got involved in CrossFit for not only my physical health but my mental health as well. Putting my health and wellness first led me on a path to coaching others through hard times and leading them to a confident and happy life.

CrossFit Rising Sun Coach Bri

Bri

Yoga
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Bri has been practicing yoga since 2008. After years of contemplating teaching, she finally decided to take the leap in 2023 and received her 200-hour certification from Hola Yoga here in Nashville, TN.

Her goal as a teacher is create a space where students can slow down, connect with their breath, and explore the mind body connection. Her classes will challenge you to think differently about how you move and what that means in your own body. When you show up for class, you are in charge at all times and know what you need best. You can expect a guided practice with variations that meet you where you are on your mat.

My hope is that you show up, connect with yourself, your community, and have fun!

CrossFit Rising Sun Coach Jenny Cesar

Jenny Cesar

CrossFit L1 Certification
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I have been doing CrossFit for six years, and I have two years of coaching experience. I am passionate about helping others achieve their fitness goals. I have always enjoyed sports and being active, I ran track and field in high school and played softball. When I began as a CrossFit athlete I quickly fell in love with the community, the challenge, and the constant pursuit of self improvement that CrossFit embodies.

Beyond CrossFit I work in hospitality and am currently in school. I like to volunteer within the community, enjoying live music, traveling, and I love trying new places to eat.

I am excited to join the coaching staff at CrossFit Rising Sun and hope to contribute to the fun, strong, and inclusive community here.

CrossFit Rising Sun Placeholder

Rachel Sanchez

Coach
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Rachel Sanchez’s introduction to sport started through her soccer, swim, and track teams, where she was both a sprinter and triple jumper. In college she picked up kickboxing and once able to take multiple classes back to back, she decided to further add Olympic weightlifting to the mix. Rachel started CrossFit in 2019 and has been hooked ever since, earning her L1 certification in 2023 in addition to holding CPT, NFPT, and swim instructor certifications.
Rachel believes that fitness is for everyone and wants the gym community to be as inclusive as possible. Her coaching approach strives to help her athletes have a positive and healthy relationship with working out and how they view fitness.
When not at the gym, Rachel works as a camera operator in television/film and is a certified drone operator.
Rachel is a collector of hobbies and loves trying new things. She is scuba certified, loves dancing, loves the outdoors, and is a junkie for adventure.

Levi Hudlow

CrossFit L1 Certification
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I have been doing CrossFit for four years and have just recently decided to take the plunge into coaching. I have been an avid weightlifter my whole life and enjoy helping others develop their skills sets and reach for new goals. After starting Crossfit it did not take me long to fall in love with the organized programming and active community. I have met some of my best friends through the gym and love being part of a space that is so welcoming and friendly.
Outside of Crossfit I am a Civil Engineer and work on rail lines and rail bridges. My wife and I love to travel. We try to plan a large trip out of the country once a year.
I am excited to be part of the coaching staff at CrossFit Rising Sun and hope to positively contribute to this community

Unique Features and Facilities

Rising Sun is housed in a 6,000 sq ft. facility with a fully licesend physical therapy clinic in-house, sauna and cold plunge, two restrooms with showers in each, and a spacious training area for our members as well as an indoor turf area for sled training and agility drills. We keep foam rollers and a variety of massage guns and mobility tools to help our athletes recover from their training. We pride ourselves on controlling our class sizes so that you get the best coaching experience possible.

Top-Notch Fitness Equipment

At CrossFit Rising Sun, we pride ourselves on providing top-of-the-line equipment to ensure our clients achieve their fitness goals. Our facility is equipped with Rogue and Fringe barbells, competition bumper plates, Concept2 rowers, and Assault Air bikes to enhance your training experience. We also offer a variety of kettlebells, medicine balls, and plyometric boxes, and jump ropes for comprehensive functional fitness workouts.

Book Your Free Intro Session Today

Take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle with a free intro session at CrossFit Rising Sun in Nashville, TN! Our team will provide a personalized tour of our facilities, introduce you to our services, and help you start your fitness journey. Schedule your session now and experience firsthand how CrossFit Rising Sun can support your goals.

Free Intro