Hometown: San Antonio, TX
When and why did you come to Austin?
My sister and I came to live with our dad in 2005. We ended up loving Austin more than we expected and have lived here ever since.
What is your background? How did you get into personal training?
I have an eclectic background of physical activities and in customer-facing jobs, so I have trained with many “super-athletes” and have interacted with people from many different backgrounds. I decided to combine my skills and experience from those aspects of my life by pursuing a career as a personal trainer. The opportunity to work with an amazing team of passionate and positive coaches at Austin Simply Fit, within an impressive woman-owned company, was too good an offer to pass up.
Tell us about your current fitness goals and training.
My fitness goals have centered around my jiu jitsu training since I started about 9 years ago. My jiu jitsu training is a combination of sparring and dedicated drilling (repetitions of specific techniques). Outside of jiu jitsu, I aim to increase my strength and jiu jitsu performance through weight training, cardio and yoga. Overall, my objective is to see what my body and mind are capable of while remaining healthy and ensuring that I can continue to train in any activity forever!
What is the most common fitness myth you work through with your clients?
That you have to get in shape before starting to train/work out. I admire anyone that takes any step toward improving their physical and/or mental health, so just taking that first step into the gym, scheduling that first consult, and completing that first workout session is commendable in itself.
What do you want your clients to take away from each training session with you?
I want each client to leave with a new perspective of their own capabilities and excited to push themselves to past their own perceived boundaries.
What sets you apart from other fitness professionals?
My extensive experience within various customer-facing environments has provided me with a strong foundation of empathy and an ever-increasing desire for human connection. Meeting people where they are today and working with them to assist in achieving their goals is my JAM! In addition, my experience in many different sports and fitness environments makes me a well-rounded personal trainer.
What is your favorite thing about Austin Simply Fit?
My favorite thing about ASF is the culture. There are so many great gyms and fitness professionals locally and all over the internet. However, the collective energy of each individual coach and their relationship with each of their clients is so special. It is a gift to be able to walk into the gym every day and know that I can be surrounded with positivity and encouragement. We all have an understanding of what it takes to maintain that kind of culture and I think we all have held up on our unspoken promises to keep that.
Favorite quote and who said it?
“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.” – Pema Chodron
Who is your favorite superhero and why?
Swamp Thing (Alec Holland). I am obsessed with plants and could be considered a “Crazy Plant Lady,” so I am a fan of his superpowers that connect him to “The Green,” which is basically all plant life on Earth. Modern technology has taken some impressive steps toward understanding the language they share by emitting electric signals, but we are still far from a DuoLingo course on that. They were the Earth’s first living organisms, after all. I’m sure they’ve got some crazy stories!
Follow Jackie on IG: @jacked.e.tey
Click here to read more from Jackie on the lessons she has learned through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and how you can apply them in your own training.