Meet the Team

Chris Bates

Chris studied exercise physiology at the University of Miami and graduated with a Bachelors and Masters in education with a concentration in Strength and conditioning. While in school, he worked as a personal trainer to apply the knowledge he learned in classes and labs. Upon graduating, Chris stepped into the group fitness scene with Iron Tribe Fitness Miami and worked to help build a life giving fitness community to the Miami area. The academic study, graduate program, and his coaching experience led him to see a wide perspective of human health, wellness, and performance.

As his move to Jackson precipitated following a backpacking trip in 2016, he quickly found that authentic community is a deeply rooted motivation for him. The personal training and group fitness class work experience in Jackson further invited Chris into the complex nature of physical fitness combined with strength and conditioning. As lifestyles and scientific methods evolve, he desires to bring continually developing knowledge and intuition to serve you.

Chris has learned that the combination of working with both individual and small groups of people in fitness and performance within the context of community can offer energy and a fullness of life that is tough to find. Once found, it is worth fighting for. We hope to find those who are willing to fight alongside me for what is true, honorable, and right. His Tribe church family in Jackson is one group that he has found companions to run alongside. He desires to also grow this community at the Lab by building strong relationships that spur each other on in fitness, faith, and fun!

Kaysha Bates

Kaysha graduated from Regis University with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2017. She then went on to pursue Residency Training in Sports Physical Therapy at the University of Florida working with several of their colligate teams on the field and in the training room. In 2019, Kaysha became a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports and has experience working with gymnasts and athletes of all ages and abilities. Kaysha currently holds a board position with Gymnastics Medicine and loves giving back and educating the gymnastics community. 

Kaysha is a native of Washington State where she spent the majority of her childhood in the gym training as a high-level competitive gymnast. She started gymnastics at age three and went on to compete collegiately for Seattle Pacific University where she earned both academic and athletic honors. Kaysha holds a special interest in working with gymnasts and has remained involved in the sport by coaching, researching, and working to educate athletes, coaches, parents, and medical providers. She is also a certified in Blood Flow Restriction training, Trigger Point Dry Needling, and Sportsmetrics. Kaysha’s background as an athlete, coach, and medical provider gives her a unique perspective on the prevention, rehabilitation, and performance of young athletes. She aims to empower athletes through evidence-based rehabilitation bridging the gap between the early rehab and return to sport.