We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Mora and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I look at risks as the key to elevating your life. As a personal trainer I believe that “Stepping out of your comfort zone” is the only way to grow and step into your full potential. I think if you’re passionate about something and you follow where you heart is telling you go, then you should have nothing to fear when it comes to taking risks.

I wouldn’t be living my dream as a Los Angeles independent trainer if I decided to let me fears take over and keep me comfortable where I was. I was a senior in college at the time when I decided I wanted to move to LA and pursue a career in fitness. Up until then I was thinking I would be going on to medical school to become a doctor! I knew that I was taking a crazy risk, leaving behind everything I knew in Massachusetts, to venture out into the unknown… ALL BY MYSELF.

My first two years, I worked for a few gyms and gained so much experience and knowledge along the way. I felt myself wanting to take the next step. Looking for the next risk to take to continue GROWING. I wanted to make sure I was ready with sufficient experience before I took the leap to start my own business as a personal trainer. Sure enough once COVID hit, it didn’t leave many of us with a choice. All of a sudden things became very clear for me that now was my time to shine. Now was chance to take the leap.

These two major risks have been a blessing and only improved my life for the better.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work as an independent trainer, one-on-one at a private training gym in West Hollywood. The most rewarding feeling is seeing how much progress my clients of two years have made with me. I always knew I wanted to help people, but I didn’t know or expect coming into this career how much I would value creating strong relationships along the way. Maybe part of me thought people want to hire a trainer just to tell them how to get fit. I’m glad that this isn’t the case. My job would be very boring if I just tell you what to do for your workout and what to eat to be healthy.

Interestingly enough, my job as a personal trainer has definitely without a doubt brought out the best version of myself. I grew up being very shy and quiet. When I first started training I was more focused on making sure my client’s form was good and that they were seeing results, instead of working on building bonds with my clients. Over time of course I became more comfortable and learned how to balance both. It wasn’t easy when I started but now it feels so natural to me.
The funny thing to me is that it never feels like I’m going to “work”. Instead, I get to go to the gym to guide my clients with their workouts while we talk, laugh and have fun every second. But don’t get me wrong, we still work hard. We laugh together at the pain I cause them … haha kidding!

That being said, I know myself and as an introvert, I still need plenty of time alone to function properly. A lot of people don’t know that for introverts, too much human interaction can actually be very draining! lol That’s why I decided to keep a part-time schedule so that I can be my best self when I am working with my clients in person.
What do I do with the rest of my time you ask? Here I introduce to you FitJenni.com, a web-app platform where clients can access their fully customized training plans and meal plans. I am so excited to offer an affordable online training program with the hope that I can help more people improve their quality of life.

Something that many people don’t know is that I started my fitness journey by following an online training plan myself. It created a space for me to stay consistent and to learn how to start working out. Everyone’s journey is very different. But I knew that if an online plan could be the stepping stone to my journey in fitness, that I had to create a space where I could help others realize their potential too.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Even though I’ve lived here almost 3 years now, I have to admit that I haven’t done enough exploring. I focused first on building my career. However, when I do have time on the weekends to appreciate this beautiful city, my go-to spots are either a hike or the beach. One of the best things about LA is that we have many of those to choose from and that they’re all pretty close in driving distance. As long as I’m out in nature then it’s always a good time. One of my favorite easier hiking trails is the Wills Rogers trail because it has beautiful ocean views. If I had to choose one favorite beach to relax then it would have to be El Matador Beach in Malibu because the rocks and cliffs look just like a movie scene. But if you’re looking to do more walking on the boardwalk or explore a beach city then Santa Monica never gets old. Lastly, my favorite place to eat is a custom burger restaurant called The Counter. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Honestly, I wouldn’t be here today if it was not for my loving and supportive parents. I grew up with humble beginnings but my parents always made sure we had what we needed and that we were loved. They helped put me through college and helped me out with my first months of rent here in LA. Side note – it took me almost a year of living here until I finally had a full time training job. So I really started out from the bottom but I always stayed positive and knew that my time would come. My parents were very supportive of me moving here and starting a new life, which is all I could ask for. Even though I know they always thought I might still go back to the medical field, today they are proud of me for following my passion and building my fitness brand, and impacting others’ lives daily.

Website: https://www.fitjenni.com/

Instagram: @fitjenni

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitjennii

Image Credits
Eduardo Figueroa Alan Espinoza

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