Community Highlights: Meet Serbrina Koogle of Happy Lifts Llc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Serbrina Koogle.

Hi Serbrina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi, I’m Serbrina — founder of Happy Lifts, and someone who never thought she’d feel strong.
I didn’t start lifting to get strong. I started because I was in a toxic, abusive relationship and thought if I changed how I looked, maybe I’d finally be chosen. I was carrying so much pain, and when I walked into a gym, I didn’t feel empowered — I felt exposed. From the years of abuse, I couldn’t help but feel intimidated. The lies running through my head made it hard to focus. My anxiety would ramp up, and I struggled to stay consistent. I didn’t know what I was doing, and it was hard learning something new in a place I didn’t feel comfortable.
Then the pandemic hit. I built a small gym in my garage, just to have a place to move. A friend started helping me learn to lift, and at first it was just something to do. But over time, everything shifted. I was showing up for myself — not to win someone back, but to find my way forward.
The breaking point came when I realized that the strength I was building physically was also showing up in my voice, my boundaries, and my ability to say “enough.” After years of fighting for a relationship that was breaking me, I finally let go. Lifting didn’t just make me stronger — it saved my life. It reminded me I was worth protecting, worth showing up for, and worth loving — starting with myself.
Since then, I’ve created Happy Lifts — a strength training club and community that teaches women and youth how to get strong, not just physically, but emotionally too. I started by offering free sessions to friends and neighbors, and it grew. I’ve earned multiple certifications and have now taught hundreds of people the foundations of strength training in a way that builds confidence, not pressure.

Because the truth is: the weights in the gym are lightweight compared to the weight of hard times — and my mission is to teach people how to train for both.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s hard being a business owner. People love to say, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” but when you run something by yourself, you end up doing a lot of things you don’t love — or things you’ve had to teach yourself from scratch. The behind-the-scenes stuff is constant: contracts, taxes, outreach, planning, logistics — and that’s on top of actually training people. Every step I take, there’s this fear in the back of my mind: What if I don’t know what step to take next? And now, with so many people relying on me — it’s a weight I carry every single day.

But here’s the thing: I want to carry it. This work is hard, but it’s meaningful. I’ll move hundreds of pounds for my community if it means someone walks away feeling stronger. Even on the hardest days, I know this is where I’m meant to be — because every ounce of effort gets turned into empowerment for someone else.

And who knows — maybe our message resonates with a reader here, and the weight of this mission gets a little lighter for me, too.

We’ve been impressed with Happy Lifts Llc , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Happy Lifts is a strength training club and community that teaches women and youth how to lift weights — and how to lift themselves up in the process. We specialize in coaching beginners and people who’ve never felt comfortable in a traditional gym. Our mission is to make strength training accessible, empowering, and something people can actually stick with — not out of pressure, but out of self-love.

We’re known for our welcoming energy. You don’t have to be strong to join Happy Lifts — you just have to be willing to start. We walk you through the basics step by step, explain the why behind every movement, and help you build not just physical strength, but confidence, consistency, and self-trust. We offer 3-month beginner programs, group workouts, teen sessions, school outreach, bodywork, and monthly events that blend movement and mindset. Every offering is built to remind people that strength shows up in how you move, how you speak to yourself, and how you handle life’s challenges.

What sets us apart is our heart — and our mission to build true independence. This isn’t a gym where you just show up, grind, and leave. At Happy Lifts, we teach you how to lift, why it matters, and how to do it confidently on your own. We’re not here to make people reliant on personal training forever. We’re here to give them the tools to get strong for life — strength that lasts, even when no one’s watching.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud that people feel safe here. People who once thought they “weren’t gym people” are now confidently deadlifting, spotting each other, and showing up with joy. That’s the magic. That’s the brand. Strong, kind, and built with intention.

If readers take one thing away, I hope it’s this: strength training isn’t reserved for athletes or influencers. It’s for everyone. You are strong enough to start, and strength training has a place for everyone to get the gentle start they need.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Los Angeles is how layered it is. It’s a city full of stories, and everyone’s carving out their own lane. There’s so much creativity, culture, and movement here — it’s inspiring to be surrounded by people chasing big dreams and building something real. I especially love Long Beach, where I’m based. It has a strong sense of community, and it feels like the kind of place where people actually look out for each other. It’s creative and scrappy in the best way.

What I like least is how hard it can be to break through without a big name or connections. There’s so much amazing work happening in smaller pockets — people teaching, healing, serving — and it doesn’t always get the recognition or support it deserves. I wish LA had more focus on funding community-rooted programs and less gatekeeping around who gets seen. There’s real magic happening on the ground — it just needs more light.

Pricing:

• 3-Month Beginner Program: $1000 total (includes 36 small group training sessions + educational guidance) Designed to teach you everything you need to lift on your own
• Group Sessions: $27–$45 per session depending on group size (2–4 people per session)
• Community Outreach & Workshops: Pricing varies by event type — we offer school assemblies, teen programs, and community workshops. We’re happy to collaborate with schools, nonprofits, or city programs — and we offer free events whenever possible.
• Scholarships & Sliding Scale Options: We believe strength should be accessible to everyone. Reach out to learn more about financial aid or sponsored spots.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://onlyhappylifts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happy.lifts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happylifts.wlb
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serbrina-koogle-a5a955355/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/happy-lifts-long-beach