About GSS

Meet The Goodwin
Strength & Stretch Team

Goodwin Strength & Stretch was founded by Jay and Heather Goodwin to provide the Lowcountry and beyond with opportunities to grow their fitness and feel their best through personal training, golf and athletic performance, and passive stretch therapy.

Owner · Lead Trainer · Therapist

Jay Goodwin

Jay has been a lifetime athlete, even playing in the minor leagues, who has channeled that passion into a profession for over 20 years. He holds a Bachelor's in Exercise Science and a Master's in Kinesiology, with continuing education that is ongoing and intentional.

Through 20 years in the industry, Jay has been the primary trainer for notable athletes including Carmen Mlodzinski (pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates), Serge Savard (hockey legend, seven-time Stanley Cup Champion), and Steve Fuller (Clemson Hall of Fame, Super Bowl Champion with the Chicago Bears). Fifteen years training in the Lowcountry, he is especially versed in golf fitness and rehabilitative training, trusted by local golf instructors and professionals.

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Jay works with professional athletes, weight-loss clients, people experiencing neurological issues such as Parkinson's and MS, and individuals simply seeking a stronger, more fit lifestyle. His number one goal: make your sessions fun and enjoyable.

TPI Golf Fitness Level 3

Certified Personal Trainer

Exercise Physiologist · CPT

CSCS

LSVT BIG

MS Kinesiology · Performance Enhancement · Corrective Exercise · Stretch Practitioner · Kinesiology Tape

Explore Jay's TPI golf fitness coaching, personal training, and assisted stretch therapy.

Owner · Lead Trainer · Therapist

Heather Goodwin

Heather began as a collegiate track and field athlete and has spent the last decade turning a passion for health, fitness, and performance into a career dedicated to sustainable, attainable results. She serves as the online nutrition, macro, and fitness program developer at GSS.

Training clients in Bluffton for over five years, both independently and within the Belfair Golf Community, Heather also works closely with individuals recovering from disordered eating who are building a healthier relationship with food, fitness, and their bodies. Her programs allow clients, especially women, to experience weight loss while eating more food and improving overall wellness.

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She specializes in metabolic adaptation and empowering clients with tools and education for lasting lifestyle change. Her goal: health and fitness that feels attainable, enjoyable, and sustainable.

Certified Personal Trainer

Advanced Nutrition Women's Fitness L2 Women's Health

Certified Master Trainer

Frank Shelton

Frank is a Certified Master Trainer with more than 20 years of experience helping clients achieve lasting results through personalized fitness and nutrition programs, with a passion for improving both physical performance and overall wellness.

His career spans weight loss, muscle gain, athletic performance, injury recovery and prevention, and nutrition planning, working with people of all ages, fitness levels, and goals. His philosophy centers on sustainable progress through education, accountability, and consistency.

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Known for his energetic approach, Frank builds positive relationships and an encouraging environment that motivates clients to push beyond limitations. His goal: every client stronger, healthier, and more confident.

Master Trainer 20+ Years Nutrition Planning

Trainer · Golf Fitness Specialist

Jessica Velasco

Jessica is a lifelong athlete who combined her love for golf and fitness into a career helping others move better, feel stronger, and perform at their highest potential. She is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University's prestigious PGA Golf Management Program and a Class A PGA Professional.

With a strong knowledge of movement patterns, mobility, and strength development, she helps golfers maximize power, improve efficiency, and reduce limitations within their swing. She also supports clients through prenatal and postpartum fitness and individuals striving for a healthier lifestyle.

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Outside the gym, Jessica trains in Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, expanding her understanding of athletic movement, discipline, and body control. Her goal: clients who build confidence, move with purpose, and enjoy the process.

Class A PGA Professional

TPI Golf Fitness Level 1

CPT · Nutrition Coach

Prenatal & Postpartum Certified

Explore Jessica's golf fitness coaching and personal training.

Personal Trainer · Massage Therapist · Fitness Instructor

Abby Rhoades

With 25 years of Massage Therapy experience and 30 years of Personal Training experience, Abby brings a unique combination of therapeutic bodywork, movement education, fitness training, and wellness expertise to every client.

Her philosophy is simple: every body is different, so every program should be different.

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Abby specializes in Active Release and Trigger Point Release Techniques and works with clients experiencing muscular tension and movement limitations associated with migraines, sciatica, carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, sports-related issues, and mobility challenges. Her extensive hands-on experience also includes Sports Massage and Lymphatic Massage.

Beyond the massage table, Abby is an experienced movement and fitness professional who teaches Mat Pilates, Reformer Pilates, Yoga, Spin, Mobility, Boot Camp, and HIIT.

With a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Anatomy & Physiology, Abby combines an understanding of the body, movement, behavior, and mindset to see the client as a whole person, not simply a muscle, injury, or fitness goal.

Her professional credentials include MCBMT Nationally Accredited Certification, ACSM, ACE, and Balanced Body certifications. She is fully licensed and insured.

Abby's greatest strength is her ability to bring all of these disciplines together: massage, mobility, strength, Pilates, recovery, flexibility, conditioning, and mindset.

Rather than placing every client into the same program, she draws from decades of experience to create a highly individualized approach based on the client's specific needs, limitations, lifestyle, and goals.

Whether the goal is to move without restriction, become stronger, improve mobility, recover more effectively, return to an active lifestyle, or reach a new level of fitness, Abby is committed to finding the right tools and resources to help each client succeed.

ACSM Certification