I cannot believe the school season has already started! Autumn is just around the corner and my intention to have a bikini body never materialized since my I declared in the spring that it was my intention. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to get on track and work toward my fitness goals before the holiday indulgence kicked into gear. I definitely indulged while I was visiting my family in Chicago last week, so I am eager to get back into shape.
This week’s featured mompreneur, Jeni Schluter, is the owner, personal trainer and wellness coach of Shift by Jeni. I had the privilege to try a couple of Jeni’s trainings to see if I would like it, and I fell in LOVE! I loved it not because it was easy, but because it challenged me and would help me get results I desired.
Jeni grew up in Napa and danced most of her life, up until her university years. Although she started in the wine industry, fitness remained an important part of her life. It wasn’t just physical fitness that she focused on, but the emotional and mental benefits that came with physical well-being.
Jeni married her husband, Andrew, and moved to Australia where he encouraged her to make the career shift. He saw her passion and desire to share and help others through fitness, so he supported her to embark on the personal training journey.
After a vigorous program, Jeni started training in gyms and later transitioned to outdoor settings and in homes. After her son, Archie was born, she decided to start her own business so she could schedule herself more effectively around family life. This understanding of a busy lifestyle means that whether you can join one of her in-person outdoor workout sessions or do a live online session, Jeni helps you maximize your workout.
A busy mom herself, Jeni enjoys helping other moms prioritize their health and fitness. She feels that with the limited time in a day, most people do not have the luxury of working out for hours at the gym, but instead it needs to fit conveniently into your life. She believes that is important to find time for fitness, because when you take care of yourself physically, it trickles down to every aspect of your life and helps you perform your other roles.
Several previous mompreneurs from the blog series communicated how important it was for them to have the proper support in place in order for them to function and be successful as mompreneurs. Having that support is a big reason why Jeni and her family returned to Napa where her parents still resides. Despite her relocation to California, Jeni continues to serve her clients in Australia through a program called V Coach via the internet.
V Coach is just one of the many tools and resources Jeni uses for her business. She is also a big fan of Canva and Word Swag, which are great marketing tools that you can find on her Facebook and Instagram accounts. Although Jeni is still new to social media, she has dived right in to share a lot of valuable information and workout tutorials that you can do in the comfort of your own home.
It’s been encouraging to be a part of Shift by Jeni’s Facebook group to get inspired and motivated. I am a total believer in prioritizing your fitness regardless of how you fit it into your life, and making it work in your schedule.
When Jeni is not working, she spends her time with her husband and her 2-year-old son. Her typical day starts at 5 a.m. because it is her time alone to enjoy her coffee or tea and get prepared for the day. She says it is hard to get out of bed at times, but it certainly makes her more productive and gets her into the right mindset for what she wants to accomplish that day. That way she can enjoy the breakfast routine with her family and return to business when her son naps.
As a personal trainer, no one understands the importance of finding time for your physical fitness than someone like Jeni would, and in addition to her morning routine of quiet time, affirmations and gratitude, Jeni will devote her time to working out as well. However, she usually doesn’t spend more than 30 minutes exercising.
Jeni’s biggest joy as a personal trainer is the impact in how she has helps her clients feel good and see changes within themselves; not just physically but also the confidence and significance of returning back to themselves. Moms give so much to so many people but often forget about their need to prioritize their self-care.
She loves the analogy they use on the plane emergency demonstrations where they emphasize that you have to put on your oxygen masks first before you can help other person. This is when you are in the right place to take care of others. It is a joy for her to help other women find joy for themselves.
Jeni’s words of wisdom for you is to not be so hard on yourself. Take it one day at a time, and allow baby steps to help lead you back to where you want to be. She encourages you to embrace your desires and not wait for something to be perfect to start because you can always change and tweak it as you go. Set your mind to do what your heart desires and make mistakes along the way. They will help you grow!
If you are like me and have been struggling to get back into fitness, it’s not too late! You can still join Shift by Jeni‘s trainings, but if you are not in Napa Jeni can still work with you through V Coach from anywhere. I am excited to announce that Jeni will be launching an online program for moms so you can do her workouts at your convenience. Stop by her website and social media platforms to see her awesome challenges!
https://www.facebook.com/shiftbyjeni/