Meet the Crew: Lance Parker

As Hydrow expands beyond rowing into strength training with the launch of LYQUID, our new adaptive strength platform, we’re welcoming a new Athlete to the team, Lance Parker. A former professional soccer player turned strength and endurance coach, Lance brings a deep understanding of movement, longevity, and performance to his workouts on LYQUID.

From coaching ultra-runners to teaching thousands of live strength classes, Lance’s approach is rooted in education, smart training, and helping people build strength that lasts. We sat down with him to talk about his background, what excites him most about LYQUID, and what you can expect from his workouts.

Q: Can you walk us through your background and how you got here?

Lance: I’m originally from Oklahoma City. I played college soccer at Missouri State University, and after my last season, I signed my first professional contract with Chivas USA in Los Angeles. I played professionally for several years—two in LA, one with Miami FC, and then four years in Canada with FC Edmonton.

When I retired in 2015, I started my coaching company, Parker Peak Performance. At first, I leaned more into nutrition coaching, then gradually shifted deeper into strength and conditioning. Over time, that evolved into strength and endurance coaching, especially for trail and ultra runners—which is funny, because as a goalkeeper, I was the definition of a fast-twitch, anaerobic athlete.

I also taught over 2,500 live strength classes as one of the founding trainers at Lululemon Studio, formerly known as MIRROR, later worked with Tonal as a guest coach, and now I’m here at Hydrow working on LYQUID.

Q: What excites you most about being part of the launch of LYQUID?

At a high level, it’s the opportunity to help a lot of people have a positive experience with movement—and strength training, especially. People are living longer these days, but their healthspan isn’t always keeping up with their lifespan. Strength training is one of the biggest tools we have to close that gap. 

What you want to be able to do in your 70s, 80s, or even 90s—such as travel independently, carry your bags, or move confidently—you have to start preparing for that decades earlier. Strength doesn’t disappear just because you age; it disappears because people stop training.

The exciting thing about LYQUID is that it makes high-quality strength training more accessible, safer, and more efficient for a lot of people.

Q: How would you describe your coaching style in workouts?

Lance: I’m definitely more of an educator than a cheerleader. I’m not super rah-rah. I focus on teaching people how to move correctly and why we’re doing what we’re doing. 

I want Members to walk away from my workouts feeling empowered, like they understand how to adjust their intensity, how to modify their movements, and how to listen to their bodies. A good coach doesn’t make people dependent on them—they give them the tools to train well on their own. 

You can expect a big emphasis on form, clear cueing, and helping you find that sweet spot where you're pushing hard enough to get stronger, but not so hard that you get injured. 

Q: What makes LYQUID different from other strength equipment you’ve used?

Lance: The technology—specifically, React Mode—is what really sets LYQUID apart.

Isokinetic resistance adapts to the force you’re applying in real time. That means LYQUID only gives you as much resistance as you can handle in that moment. As you fatigue, the resistance naturally adjusts, which makes it incredibly safe.

While this may sound intimidating, what people don’t always realize is that this actually reduces your injury risk. Traditional overloaded eccentric training in the gym requires heavy weights and spotters. With LYQUID, you can get the benefits of eccentric overload at the push of a button, without needing a barbell or extra people.

It’s efficient, effective, and much safer than trying to guess the “right” weight in a traditional gym setting.

Q: What advice would you give someone just getting started with LYQUID?

Lance: The first thing you should do is watch the intro and educational videos on the machine, especially if you’re new to strength training. Understanding how LYQUID works will help you get way more out of it.

Next, spend time exploring the single-set exercises in both Standard Mode and React Mode. Just play around and get comfortable with how everything feels.

Then, find a program that resonates with you and commit to it. Take rest days when needed, but stay consistent. Consistency matters more than anything else when it comes to seeing real changes in strength and overall health.

Q: Outside of fitness, what do you enjoy doing?

Lance: Honestly, most of what I enjoy still revolves around being active outdoors. I don’t sit still very well. When I do slow down, I try to catch up on sleep, program for my athletes, or learn something new.

I’m a lifelong learner. At a certain point, you realize everything is interconnected, and learning in one area often helps you understand another in a deeper way.

Q: What motivates you personally to train and stay active?

Lance: I want to be able to go into nature and have big adventures at a moment’s notice—running in the mountains for hours, exploring, traveling without limitations. To do that, I need both strength and endurance.

Something people often miss is how closely those two are connected. Strength is critical for endurance. It improves durability, recovery, and your ability to repeat efforts without breaking down. If you don’t have enough lean muscle, it’s really hard to sustain high volumes of endurance work.

Q: If it were up to you, where would Hydrow film its next workouts?

Lance: The Canadian Rockies, no question. Moraine Lake is my favorite place on Earth. It’s probably not big enough for a rowing shoot, but it’s unreal.

Q: What’s it been like joining the Hydrow Athlete team?

Lance: It’s been really special. Everyone—from the Athletes to the broader team—is down-to-earth, supportive, and ego-free. It genuinely feels like being part of a team again, which I missed after retiring from soccer.

Everyone has a role, and everyone’s working toward the same goal. That kind of environment is rare, and I’m grateful to be part of it.

Build strength that lasts with Lance

Ready to build strength that supports how you move—now and for years to come? Lance’s workouts on LYQUID focus on smart, effective training that prioritizes form, safety, and long-term progress.

With an educational, no-nonsense coaching style, Lance helps you understand why you’re doing each movement while guiding you to push at the right intensity for your body. Powered by LYQUID’s adaptive resistance and React Mode, every rep adjusts in real time, making workouts both efficient and safe as you fatigue.

Explore Lance’s strength workouts on LYQUID and start building confidence, durability, and strength that carries over into everyday life. Train consistently, move better, and get stronger with Lance on LYQUID.