About Me

Hi! I’m Thomas Aláan.

I’m a displaced Appalachian (and Chicagoan of fifteen years) who loves to sing, feed my cat (Theobold), cast arcane spells in World of Warcraft, murder houseplants, shuffle on the dance floor, and compare myself to a squirrel a little too freely. I also love to lift heavy things, swing metal objects, slam rubbery spheres, jump on boxes, jump off boxes, jump over boxes, balance on unstable surfaces, and engage in a variety of other squirrel-like activities that sound increasingly concerning when described out of context.

  • Professional Certifications & Licenses

    • Personal Trainer | National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
      - Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)
      - Behavior Change Specialist (BCS)
      - Virtual Coaching Specialist (VCS)
      - Sports Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)

    • Nutrition Coach | National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)

    • CPR/AED | National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)

    • Essentials of Performing Arts Medicine | Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA)

    • Professional Teaching Certificate (Music PK-AD) | State of West Virginia

    Formal Education

    • Doctor of Musical Arts (Performance) | University of Wisconsin-Madison

    • Master of Arts (Vocal Pedagogy) | Texas Woman’s University

    • Bachelor of Arts (Music Education) | Alderson-Broaddus College

    • Personal Training
      - Independent Trainer | Seattle | 2024-present
      - Personal Trainer, Chicago Athletic Clubs | Chicago | 2023-2024

    • Vocal Coaching
      - Independent Vocal Coach | Dallas, Chicago, Seattle | 2005-present

    I include vocal coaching because the detailed observation of singers and adjustments to posture, breathing, balance, and bodily coordination make it extremely relevant.

  • It was helpful that I had several motivating factors. I’d put on a few pounds when I went back to school to get my doctorate. I was surrounded by thousands of jacked undergraduate guys who looked like they had been lifting hay bales their whole lives. (Since this was in Wisconsin, they were also all blonde, so it had a Village of the Damned vibe.) The opera director wanted me in nothing but underwear during two post-coital bedroom scenes. I watched as a few people close to me began experiencing the health consequences of a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition.

    It was the perfect storm: vanity and health.

    A family I was staying with recommended I start working with Priscilla Peterson, a five-foot former cheerleader and mother of nine who chugged gallons of coffee and could strike fear in the hearts of adults with her workouts. I loved her and learned so much from working with her. About three months later, I was 25 pounds lighter and had actual biceps. There was no going back for me.

  • Working with great coaches had a profound impact on me. They showed me the value of a healthy, active lifestyle, but they also showed me what good coaching looks like: caring, knowledgeable, encouraging, and invested in the people they work with. As I learned more about fitness and nutrition, I realized how much coaching in those areas overlapped with teaching singers. In both cases, you're helping someone develop skills, build confidence, overcome obstacles, and achieve goals that are meaningful to them. I loved that idea.

    Coaching felt like a natural extension of my teaching—another way to help people grow and become more capable versions of themselves. So I talked with my coach at the time. Fun fact: his name was also Thomas. He helped me map a path toward NASM certification, and shortly after I earned it, he left the club where we both worked. I ended up taking his place.

    • Director of Music, Choir, and Bells at St. John the Baptist (Seattle, 2004-present); previously at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago (2009-2024)

    • Volunteer at Lambert House (Seattle, 2026-present), an LGBTQ+ youth center

    • Co-Founder of The EcoVoice Project (Chicago, 2022-2024), which educates and advocates for climate justice through music

    • Former Co-Director of OperaWorks (Los Angeles, 2022-2023), an immersive program for singers to embody their sound

    • Former Co-Director of Bach and Beethoven Experience (Chicago, 2013-2022), an ensemble that merges contemporary and folk music with historical practices

    • Founding Board Secretary of Beyond Legal Aid (Chicago, 2014-2023), which provides legal services to and within communities

How I Coach People

The way I work with people, whether in the gym or the voice studio, is guided by the same philosophy: I center our time together on your growth, well-being, and long-term success, not a monetary transaction. I don’t think of the people I work with as clients—I never use that term. I think of them as people. The relationships I build are rooted in trust, mutual investment, and a shared commitment to progress. Your goals and achievements matter to me, and I get a rush when you discover something new, reach a milestone, or accomplish something you once thought was out of reach. My role is to challenge and support you in equal measure. I’m more cheerleader than drill sergeant—I’ll push you to grow, but never to the point of breaking. The goal is sustainable progress, greater confidence, and a process that leaves you stronger, happier, and better than when we began.

Who I Work With

I work with people from all walks of life and at all fitness levels. As long as you're medically cleared to exercise, I'm happy to work with you. Many people come to me feeling unsure, out of place, or convinced they're starting too late. They're usually surprised to learn that we’ve all been beginners, that no one is out of place, and that it’s never too late. Over the years, I've coached complete beginners, recreational athletes, pre- and post-natal individuals, seniors—including those managing osteoporosis or living with joint replacements—and people recovering from or working through injuries. Whatever your starting point, I've likely worked with someone in a similar place.

You don't need to be fit to start. You don't need any prior gym experience. You simply need to show up, do the work, and give yourself permission to work towards a goal or two. If you're interested, I'm willing.

How We Workout

Every workout is built around two things: your goals and the resources available to us.

Some people want to build strength. Some want to lose weight. Some want to move with less pain, improve their balance, or simply feel better in their bodies. There are many ways to get there, and you don't need a room full of expensive equipment to make meaningful progress. If I come to your home, I'll bring a variety of equipment, including kettlebells, dumbbells, barbells, TRX straps, and a few other toys. We can also make use of whatever you already have. If we train at your gym, we'll take advantage of the equipment available there. Either way, the program is built around what we have and what you like.

As for my personal training style? I'm most in my element when the energy is high and we're moving. I love incorporating kettlebells, TRX, battle ropes, agility drills, medicine balls, box jumps, and other dynamic exercises that challenge coordination, strength, and athleticism. Have you noticed the squirrel logo? I call these sessions "squirrel days," and they're my favorite. They're playful, challenging, and a little unpredictable—in the best way. But I also love a classic strength-training session where we simply focus on lifting heavy things and getting stronger.

Also, fair warning: I'm a sucker for running jokes. Many of the people I work with become familiar with a hypothetical bear that lives in the woods and occasionally demands demonstrations of proper Romanian deadlift form.

Why a bear? I have no idea. But years from now, I want you to remember how to hinge properly if you're ever confronted by this very demanding woodland creature.