Our mission
To help people build strength in every sense of the word — physical strength, mental discipline, and long lasting habits.
We provide a focused training environment where lifters of all experience levels can learn proper technique, pursue real progress, and develop the discipline to achieve their goals.
Meet the Owner
Michael Burns
Owner & Head Coach - Certified Personal Trainer - Specialist in Strength and Conditioning - Certified Nutritionist
My journey to owning Burns Barbell started long before I ever believed it was possible.
I am a United States Marine Corps veteran and former United States Secret Service officer. My passion for strength training began during my time in the Marine Corps and continued to grow while I was living in Washington, D.C. working for the Secret Service.
During that time, I had a moment in a gym that stuck with me. I watched a lifter squat a weight that seemed impossible to me. I introduced myself, and he generously gave me a few pointers before continuing his workout. That moment sparked something in me. From that day forward, I began setting serious goals for my squat, bench, and deadlift.
Over time, I began struggling with PTSD and realized I needed to change the path I was on. In late 2019, I left the Secret Service and moved back home, unsure of what direction my life would take.
During that difficult period, a friend asked me a simple question: What do you enjoy doing every day?
The answer was easy — going to the gym.
I began personal training shortly after and spent the next year building a small group of clients. In 2020, I took the leap and opened my own facility. That decision led to the creation of Burns Barbell.
Burns Barbell represents far more than a gym to me. Strength training helped rebuild my life, both physically and mentally. My goal is to provide a place where others can experience the same transformation through discipline, proper training, and a supportive environment.
I specialize in strength and conditioning for athletes, advanced, and novice lifters alike. Whether you are trying to get healthy, lose weight, or gain muscle, I can help you not only achieve your goals, but teach you the necessary skills to be able to do it on your own for life.
Meet the Coaches:
Lana Curlis
Certified Personal Trainer - Women’s Fitness Specialist - Certified Nutritionist
Hi, I’m Lana! I’m a women’s fitness coach passionate about helping women of all ages feel strong, confident, and capable through every stage of life.
As a mom of three and a lifelong fitness enthusiast, I understand the real-life challenges that come with changing hormones, busy schedules, and unpredictable seasons. My own journey has taken me through postpartum recoveries, the ups and downs of hormonal shifts, a pandemic-era reset in my basement with just dumbbells and a Pilates mat and navigating my own health challenges including scoliosis and tricuspid regurgitation. I get it — and I’m here to show you that strength is always possible.
I specialize in cycle-syncing workouts, pre- and postnatal training, and fitness tailored to premenopausal and menopausal women, with clients ranging from teenage girls to women in their 80s. Whether you’re just starting out or adapting to a new phase of life, I meet you where you are — and help you build lasting strength from the inside out.
When I’m not training clients, you’ll find me hiking with my family, enjoying a great cup of coffee, or curled up with a book. My mission is simple: to empower women to move well, feel better, and embrace their bodies through every chapter of life.
Meet the Coaches:
Luke Pinkston
Certified Personal Trainer
Fifteen years at Fidelity Investments taught Luke one vital lesson: understanding the "why" behind the numbers matters far more than memorizing formulas. With a career spanning multiple roles including teaching about the industry, performing quantitative analytics, and leading teams of Analysts, Data Scientists, and Software Engineers, he discovered his true calling was helping people grasp complex ideas and apply them to their own lives. With over 15 years on the field as a Division I football athlete and rugby player, Luke now brings that same approach to fitness. Luke has coached high school rugby and now works 1-1 and with small groups as an accredited personal trainer certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Luke brings two powerful advantages from his background: an analytical lens and genuine passion for teaching. Like he did in his former career, he breaks down complex physiology and training science into clear, actionable concepts—no jargon without explanation. Every exercise, periodized block, and adjustment includes the reasoning behind it. Because knowing "why" something works transforms how you execute it. His clients don't just follow plans; they understand them by becoming active participants in their own progress rather than passive recipients of instruction. This approach reflects Luke's guiding principle: "Better than Yesterday." Not through magic or quick fixes, but through consistent execution of well-thought-out strategies tailored to the individual.
Fitness isn't a generic checklist—it's a personalized journey where data meets consistency and science meets human connection. Whether it's optimizing an athlete's conditioning, helping a busy professional build sustainable strength, or empowering those aging gracefully to stay independent and active well into their later years, his mission remains the same: help you understand yourself better so you can achieve more — and be better than yesterday.