
Train Smarter. Move Better. Perform at Your Best.
Lilley Fitness— Santa Barbara’s top coach for full-body strength, mental clarity, and lasting results.

Your catalyst for change
When your body is strong, your mind follows. Whole-body wellness fuels every part of your life — I’m Erika Lilley and I'm here to make sure you get there with programs that are proven, personalized, and full of energy.
25+ years
Proven coaching experience — trusted by beginners and elite athletes alike
28 FULL IRONMAN COMPLETED
Full IRONMAN finishes — 140.6 miles each of relentless swim (2.4 mi), bike (112 mi), and run (26.2 mi) endurance
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
Olympic Lifting
USA Triathlon
Precision Nutrition
injury prevention
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Let’s find out what you’re capable of
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Book a session today
Generic programs don’t work — and going it alone can lead to injury, burnout, or lack of progress. Even coaches need coaches. I create personalized, science-backed plans that evolve with you, keeping your body challenged, your mind engaged, and your results consistent.
Programs snapshot
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Adult functional training
Join the movementAdult programs are designed for your fitness level and built to keep you motivated —stay strong, move well, and be part of a supportive community.
- Dynamic group classes for all levels
- Women 55+
- HIIT groups
- Adult sport-specific training
- Yoga and pliability
- Rope flow and stretch
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Youth sports performance
Join the movementYouth athlete programs are built to develop speed, strength, and smart movement — train in sync with your season and stay ready to perform.
- Specializing in overhead and rotational sports (volleyball, swimming, baseball, softball, basketball, golf, tennis)
- Nutrition for busy student-athletes
- Injury prevention and rehab
- Preparation for high school, junior college, and college athletics
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Advanced personal training
Join the movementPrivate coaching built around you — for fat loss, strength, or sport-specific goals, every session is tailored to fit your life.
- Triathlon-specific program (Sprint to Ultra Distance)
- Running-specific training (video analysis, race-specific programs)
- HYROX/SPARTAN FIT/DEKA-specific training
- Post-joint replacement therapy and strengthening
Whether you’re an elite competitor, weekend warrior, or just starting your fitness journey — I meet you where you are, and push you to where you want to be.
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From first-timers to elite athletes — there’s a program for every goal and every body. Whether you're chasing fat loss, building strength, preparing for competition, or simply want to move and feel better, you’ll find a program built around real results.

Here's what makes my coaching the right choice
Certified
I am professionally certified in strength training, injury prevention, and nutrition, ensuring you get top-notch and reliable coaching
Science-backed
I use the latest sports science to provide effective, evidence-based strategies that safely boost your performance and well-being
Tested & proven
With years of real-world results, I have helped clients of all ages, goals, and fitness levels achieve and exceed their objectives.
Real stories. real results. Hear It From My Clients
With over 25 years of coaching, it’s the progress and gratitude of my clients that fuel my passion. Helping people move, grow, and thrive is what drives me every day.
Real stories. real results. Hear It From My Clients
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Danny Echt
Age 55 - Tennis PRO
Erika is not only tremendously gifted in teaching the art of strength training, she also makes the workout fun. Erica is a competitive athlete herself, and her commitment and passion to help her students get stronger is refreshing and inspiring. On top of that, her methods have helped me recover from injury, and now I'm back to playing sports more comfortably and competitively. If longevity, balance, flexibility, and strength are important to you, Erica absolutely will help you better yourself.
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Jen Ellison, Professional
Age 60, 1.5 years with Erika
I am so grateful to be working with Erika Lilley as my athletic trainer. I am an avid hiker and frequently travel to hiking destinations. In January of 2024, I began working with Erika on strength training in preparation for a series of four long and challenging hiking trips I planned over a 12 month period. With her encouragement and expertise, I am stronger, have greatly improved my balance, and am quicker to recover after difficult days. I recently completed two of the four hikes I set out to accomplish in one year... Feeling great and no injuries! Erika has inspired me to push beyond my perceived limits.
She works with me on the skills and strengths she knows are important to me for my specific goals and sport.
Training with Erika is like the best insurance policy for preventing injury and staying strong and fit, and happy even as.... you know, we get older.
I totally recommend Erika Lilley to anyone wanting to build strength and enhance their athletic ability. -
Owen Jones, Mathematics Specialist
Age 23, 4 years with Erika
SOME THINGS I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED:
When I started training with her, I had no idea I’d literally become her poster boy for “body by Erika.” She has completely transformed my body, turning me into an absolute beast. I wasn’t a great athlete in high school or college, which makes it all the more impressive that she has made me so much faster, stronger, and more athletic. Erika has become an incredible mentor to me- like another parent. Training 12 hours a week means I see her as much as my actual parents, and her guidance goes beyond the gym. The community here is incredible. I’ve built amazing supportive friendsips wth people who push me everyday. This isn’t just a gym- it’s Team E.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY?
Strength training has become everything to me, and I look forward to every single workout with Erika. If you’re thinking about joining, you won’t regret it (maybe the first one can be pretty rough). No matter where you’re starting from, Erika will push you further than you ever thought possible. -
Susan McMillan, Professional, Tennis Player (6 days a week)
Age 60, 2+ years with Erika
Erika is a force of nature in the fitness world—a brilliant trainer, a community builder, and a genuinely compassionate individual. Under her expert guidance, I've achieved fitness milestones I never thought possible. My strength has soared, my speed has rebounded to levels I haven't seen in years, and I've remained injury-free throughout. Erika's laser-like focus on proper form and technique ensures that every workout is not only effective but also safe.
Perhaps even more impressive is the exceptional community Erika has fostered. It's a haven of encouragement, support, and dedication. The atmosphere is both fun-loving and hardworking—a perfect balance that keeps me motivated and eager for each session.
Erika’s unique ability to blend rigorous training with a supportive community has transformed not just my physical health, but my overall well-being. I'm profoundly grateful for Erika's impact on my fitness journey and the vibrant community she continues to nurture and grow. -
Art Lee, Retired Radiologist, Top Age Group Tennis Player
Age 70, 2 years with Erika
SOME THINGS YOU HAVE REALLY ENJOYED: Fast-paced, interesting workouts with a great variety of exercises to enhance strength and flexibility. You could almost even call them fun! Meeting a variety of interesting people at the workouts is a bonus.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT: If you’re like me and have never gone to the gym and do not have the self-discipline to do it on your own, Erika has made working out possible. The increase in strength and level of fitness is tangible. -
Chris Horowitz, Lawyer, Wife, and Mother of 2
Age 54, 4 years with Erika
SOME THINGS YOU HAVE REALLY ENJOYED:
Getting stronger, learning how to lift weights, seeing positive changes in my abilities, supportive team environment in classes, making friends with workout buddies, and physical and mental health benefits.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY TO A PROSPECTIVE NEW ATHLETE WHO MIGHT WANT TO JOIN OUR TRIBE:
It’s a great way to get fit and improve your health and strength while meeting wonderful new people! -
Casey T
Age 37, 4 years with Erika
I’ve had the privilege of working with Erika for the past four years, and I truly can’t imagine my life without her support and guidance. Her strength training and coaching have had a profoundly positive impact on my physical and mental well-being. Through both of my pregnancies and postpartum recoveries, she kept me strong, healthy, and grounded. Her thoughtful, personalized approach made all the difference during such transformative times in my life. I’m incredibly grateful for her expertise, encouragement, and the genuine care she brings to every session.
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Rob Wendell
Age 54, 2 years with Erika
Some things I’ve really enjoyed: there are many. At the top of the list, I am very grateful that Erika from day one was fully committed to identifying what my fitness goals should be, vs just accepting whatever was my perception. In other words, she had a vision for me that was beyond what I had for myself. Two years later, I’m not only fully recovered from the injury (torn Achilles) that brought me to Erika, but I’m in the best shape of my post-collegiate life. And I’m continuing to get stronger, thanks to her ability to innovate and push the envelope with me. I played many sports competitively, including through Division 1 college, and she’s right there at the top of my list of best coaches I’ve ever had.
Comments to a prospective new athlete: If you are ready to commit to becoming your best self, well beyond whatever you think that is, there’s no one better than Erika. But if not, don’t waste her time or your time. There are plenty of trainers out there who will settle for mediocre results – Erika is not one of them. -
Michael Wasserman
Age 62, 1.5 years with Erika
Erika builds community while taking close care of her athletes.
Erika's group workouts create a competitive environment with a compassionate collection of interesting and focused trainees, which isn't to say that I don't modify when necessary.
Mostly, what I enjoy is training with a hard-working individual who truly wants me to be stronger and pushes me when necessary. Erika has mastered how to make many of us laugh and sweat simultaneously!
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Kyleen
Age 59, 5 months with Erika
At 59, I've always identified as an athlete--fitness has been a central part of my life. But everything changed when I injured my knee playing volleyball. After undergoing meniscus repair surgery, I found myself sidelined for nearly two years. During that time, I became increasingly frustrated and discouraged. My activity level plummeted, the weight crept on, and working 12-hour days at a desk only made things worse. I didn't feel like myself anymore--physically or mentally.
I started working out with Erika, and everything began to shift.
She met me where I was, not where I had been. With her expert guidance, we focused on rebuilding strength, improving mobility, which had a direct effect on my confidence and motivation. Her approach is personalized, supportive, and incredibly effective. I've not only dropped some excess weight, but I've replaced fat with lean muscle, and I feel stronger and more energized than I have in years.
I am always impressed with her knowledge and preparation; she invests in my workouts--never the same thing twice.
Grateful for the progress made and what is to come!
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Mark Stori
Age 59, 4 years with Erika
I have been consistently impressed by Erika's deep knowledge of training techniques and her understanding of the human body. As an older client, I especially appreciate her commitment to helping me get stronger while minimizing the risk of injury—an approach that has made a significant difference in my fitness journey.
Erika’s workouts are always unique and creative, keeping each session fresh and engaging. She has also done an incredible job building a vibrant workout community, bringing together people of all ages—ranging from recent college graduates to those in their 70s—who share a passion for fitness. In group workouts, Erika excels at challenging each of us at our own level.
Her humor, honesty, and boundless energy make every session enjoyable. Erika’s passion for her clients and athletes is evident—she genuinely cares about each of us and would go above and beyond to help anyone in need. Beyond her exceptional skills as a trainer, Erika is also an inspiration: she is a world-class triathlete who leads by example, motivating all of us to push our limits and achieve our best. -
Hunter Turpin
Age 38, 5 glorious years with Erika
SOME THINGS YOU HAVE REALLY ENJOYED: Erika’s perpetual stoke, unconditional support and boundless energy! As a passionate and lifelong surfer, I’ve never felt stronger and more capable than I do now. We have FUN, and the results have been real.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY TO A PROSPECTIVE NEW ATHLETE WHO MIGHT WANT TO JOIN OUR TRIBE: Erika’s intuition and ability to tailor programs for her clients’ specific and evolving needs is next level. She’s also got a heart of gold. Everyone could use a coach and cheerleader for life like Erika. -
Anna Patti
Age 26, 15 years with Erika
Working out with Erika has been an absolute game-changer! She's not just a coach or trainer—she’s a full-on hype squad, mentor, and motivator all rolled into one. Whether we’re crushing it in the gym or she’s cheering me on in life, Erika’s support has helped me push past limits and aim higher than ever. The vibe she creates is amazing—welcoming, empowering, and just plain fun.
Thanks to her guidance, I’ve set goals that once felt out of reach... and actually crushed them. And those group classes? Total confidence boosters! I never imagined I’d be lifting heavier weights with such ease—and loving it. I’ve grown stronger, more confident, and more motivated than ever. Can't wait to keep leveling up!ADVICE TO NEW ATHLETES: Every pro was once a beginner! Don’t compare your Day 1 to someone else’s Year 5. Focus on building good habits, learning proper technique, and listening to your body. Progress might feel slow at first, but small wins add up fast. Surround yourself with people who support your goals, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone—because that’s where the growth happens. Most importantly, have fun with it! Enjoy the journey, celebrate every milestone (big or small), and remember why you started.

Ready to go? Your transformation starts now
Start your path to transformation and feel the difference waiting for you. Take the leap and try it—you'll love the results!