Amani Manassra is a coach at Pal-fit CrossFit Ramallah. She is the first female coach at the only CrossFit affiliate in the Palestinian Territories, and seeks to create health and physical fitness programs for Palestinian women and their families. 

Since she first joined the gym in 2013, Amani has acquired several certifications, including specializations in gymnastics, weightlifting, strongman, and kid’s training. She and her team coach upwards of 120 men, women, and kids, and organize city-wide fitness competitions as a way of promoting healthy lifestyles in Ramallah and other Palestinian communities. In addition to traditional CrossFit classes, Amani coaches a twice-weekly CrossFit Kids class.

With the cultural value placed on family, Amani believes it is important to reach women who can impact the nutrition and health decisions of their households. In the Palestinian Territories, limited opportunities exist for women to participate in physical activity, and many are obese—a major public health problem. Amani is developing a program for women where they can come and work out together, as well as learn about healthy lifestyle choices.