Kat Edmonds

About Coach Edmonds

Kat has been passionate about teaching movement since she was 16. She kicked off her journey by coaching soccer and sharing the joys of whitewater kayaking at a summer camp. In her twenties, she was a wilderness guide, leading 30+ day backpacking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, and kayaking trips. In the winter, she was an alpine skiing and snowboarding instructor in beautiful spots like Lake Tahoe and Teton Valley. After leaving the wilderness, Kat discovered woodworking and has been a professional woodworker for the last 15 years.  She runs her own artistic practice and collaborates with two friends to run a community shop in North Corvallis, where she teaches woodworking at Highland Woodshop. What ties all of these experiences together is learning to engage with risk. Whether it's exploring the wilderness, working with wood, or lifting weights, these activities not only offer a thrill but also help build confidence and resilience. Kat loves the Helix motto, “harder to kill,” as it resonates with finding our inner strength as a vital form of resistance.

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Turning Point

Kat is passionate about making everyone feel welcome at Helix, especially those who might feel a bit out of place in a traditional gym. Her journey took a significant turn when she was on the road to recovery from PTSD. Going through trauma really changed the way she viewed safety in her body, and activities she once loved started to feel intimidating. It took time for her to reconnect with movement—especially lifting—and to step back into the gym. Thankfully, she found a supportive space at Helix as a member, where she rediscovered that sense of safety and joy in movement. When the opportunity came up to join the Helix team, Kat jumped at the chance. She experienced firsthand how healing and confidence-building this community is, and she's excited to help others find that same sense of empowerment within themselves.

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Motivation & Passion

Kat is all about creativity. It's her way of expressing herself and connecting with the world, which she finds vital for navigating the human experience. For Kat, creativity isn’t just about making art; it’s also about movement. She truly believes that discovering joyful and affirming ways to move our bodies is a big part of human creativity. When she’s not in the gym, you can find her enjoying time with her family and friends, giving plants a second chance at life, or playing guitar.