Our Story
Rafe and Melissa Teich
The Beast Strong Story
Rafe and Melissa opened Beast Strong Powerhouse in December 2016, on the East Side of Tucson, AZ. Needing access to a facility with 24hr availability and the best equipment to train heavy and hard, the Strength Starts Here culture began. With a small crew of around 25 original members, the OG Beast Strong Powerhouse was open for business. Adding key pieces of equipment and an expansion in 2018, the community continued to grow. Switching from his full time work as a contractor, Rafe went “All In” at the gym. Growing the coaching and training portion of the business, they found the need to expand again. In May of 2020, Beast Strong Powerhouse opened their second location, Beast Strong Powerhouse West. With the demand for more personal training and coaching, they utilized coaches that had been a part of the Beast Strong Powerhouse community and are constantly supporting the culture with top notch training and coaching.
Rafe leads the direction of the Beast Strong Powerhouse culture and shares his passion for strength training with his clients and members.
Melissa, works as a RN, as well as coaches and continues to lead the Beast Strong Powerhouse culture with a non-stop, no BS, “put in the work” mentality. Her passion for lifting and her competitive nature is a constant beacon of Mental, Emotional and Physical Strength.
Strength Starts Here
Meet The Owners
Raphael “Rafe” Teich
At 12 years old in his parents’ basement with a small bench, a 1” barbell, loadable dumbbells and a bit over 100lbs of those plastic coated concrete plates, Rafe started his journey in strength training. On a mission to gain size and strength to work for his uncle’s concrete curbing company, he took lifting weights and eating “meat and potatoes” quite literally. Fast forward 25 years and his interest in getting “bigger faster stronger”, he has turned his passion for weightlifting and strength training into a passion to helping others.
As a NPC Teen National Bodybuilding Champion, Rafe has gained many years’ experience in strength training and nutrition. Certified as an USA Olympic Weight Lifting Coach and a USPA Powerlifting coach, he guides his clients utilizing a broad base of strength training techniques.
Leading the Beast Strong Powerhouse Team of lifters in powerlifting, strongmen, bodybuilding, all male and females divisions and clients looking to lose weight or get bigger faster stronger, Rafe educates and guides his clients with the necessary tools to obtain their goals.
Strength Starts Here!
Mental, Emotional, Physical Strength
IFBB Pro Melissa Teich
With an incredible drive to go “All In” with everything, Melissa has been competitive in sports most of her life. With an intention to detail that few possess, Mrs. Beast took to lifting weights. Starting as a competitive swimmer in high school, she graduated to competing in triathlons in college. Although she enjoyed endurance training, Melissa enjoys lifting weights and building strength even more!
In 2012 she qualified for Nationals at her first NPC Show in the Figure division. Discovering the competitive nature and quality of physiques at the national level, Melissa learned a few things. She enjoyed lifting weights and competing on stage, but did not like wearing the tall heeled shoes for the figure division. With her “all in” attitude, she searched and hired one of the top women’s coaches in the sport in 2013.
Competing and qualifying for a national level show, where one can earn there IFBB Pro status, Melissa stepped on stage at the 2014 NPC USA National Championships in the WPD – Women’s Physique Division – and walked away with a win and her IFBB Pro Card. She competed at 3 IFBB Pro shows throughout 2014 – 2015. Needing a break, for the next 4 years Melissa became a competitive powerlifter, with the best win of 1 st place at the 2019 KERN USA Open powerlifting event in the women’s 67.5kg weight class.
As she traveled into 2020, it was time for a change. Hiring coach Shelby Starnes, for another prep back into the WPD. Melissa went on to dominate the stage at the Wings of Strength AZ Women’s Pro Show in December of 2020, winning 1st place with a perfect score. This also qualified her for the biggest stage in the world, the Ms. Physique Olympia 2021 where she finished 6th in the world. Again in 2021, Melissa won 1st place at the Wings of Strength AZ Women’s Pro Show, again with a perfect score! 2022 Texas Pro, Melissa won 1st place again, heading back the the 2022 Olympia place in the first call out with an 8th place finish. With the incredible support of her coaches and team at Beast Strong Powerhouse, Melissa decided to move up to Women’s Open Bodybuilding while take coaching guidance from her man - Coach Boss Rafe representing Team Teich at Beast Strong Powerhouse. After a strong 3rd place finish at her debut WBB show - Chicago Pro. Unsatisfied with this placing Melissa went onto compete at the Rising Phoenix Women's World Bodybuilding Championships taking a respectable first call out and 6th in the world!! Mrs. Beast has every tool and the support needed to be competitive in this division for years to come. Switching gears? Stay tuned to see how Mrs. Beast does this spring in competitive powerlifting!
Our Why
Mental – Emotional – Physical Strength
At Beast Strong Powerhouse each one of us are here to help others. Our coaches and staff guide not only through instructing strength training exercises, mobility and proper lifting techniques, but in the process, the individual discovers his / her confidence found in these training sessions.
As a member built culture, we provide a healthy outlet for individuals, creating a mindset of belief and perseverance that they can count on. With this strong community, individuals can find and nurture their Mental, Emotional and Physical Strength. MEP Strength is Beast Strong Powerhouses’ WHY. We believe in each client. We can see the potential in each one of our clients. We challenge you to believe in yourself. We challenge you to reach for your maximum potential. We offer the tools needed to achieve these goals. It is up to you. We got your back. We are here to help.