Hey, friend, I'm so glad you're here! I’m Jess Brock-Pitts, certified personal trainer & group fitness instructor. I’m a powerlifter, a runner, and a gym class drop-out turned certified personal trainer & group fitness instructor. Years ago, I started exercising for weight loss and gradually discovered that it went way deeper than that. After finishing a triathlon (with little prior experience in any of the events), giving birth, and dealing with the body changes that come with childbirth and motherhood, I had to shift gears. I began to choose exercise that I enjoyed, like trail running, over programs that were designed solely to make me lose weight but left me hungry, tired, and unhappy. I realized that what made me feel most fulfilled, more than attaining a certain body weight or size, was the feeling of accomplishment that came with challenging myself. The emphasis on body positivity, exercising for health and enjoyment, and intuitive eating have become the focal point of my services, empowering other women who are fed up the with dieting and fitness fads. If you are a runner, cross trainer, or a badass mom who slays the laundry with an infant latched on, I would love to work with you too find your version of strong! This is a safe space where you can kick ass and eat pizza (or ice cream…or both) all while loving your healthy, amazing body!

My favorite client story

My client K came to me after feeling really frustrated with her sedentary work leading to her body feeling sluggish and in pain. She was nervous about working with a trainer because she was already in pain and didn't want to make it worse. In her words, "I had been toying with the idea of getting a personal trainer to help with my seemingly chronic pain for a few months but questioned my motivations. Are my intentions pure? Will the years of societal messaging of “lose weight” and “get a six-pack in six days” consume me? Will I relapse? I know...I know...I think too much." We started off gently, working on mobility and strength, with small bits of cardio. K's strength has improved to the point where she is doing weighted squats and more advanced compound movements. She says, "Jess is authentic. She is relatable. And she is kind. In a world filled with trainers who are trying to convince you that you could look “better,” or “no pain no gain” or share tips on how to “lose weight quickly” before a weigh-in. Jess is the opposite of what I thought I’d find when searching for a trainer so needless to say, once I met Jess I breathed a sigh of relief. How refreshing to find a trainer who deeply understands the importance of honoring our inner body and its need for movement without focusing on the external side effects of doing so." It has been awesome to take part in her journey!

My favorite exercise

Deadlifts -- there are a ton of variations, options for different equipment, range-of-motion, etc, and deadlifts are a great total body strengthening move, as well as being really practical. I program some version of deadlifts for nearly everyone.

My favorite quote

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." ? Albus Dumbledore

My training philosophy

I don't focus on weight or aesthetics. If that is your main focus in training, there are a lot of trainers out there who will work with you on those goals. If you're sick of battling your body and want to try a different approach, I'm your trainer. I like to help people find the joy in movement, and build a long-term sustainable routine, not something flashy you do for 30 or 60 days before you get frustrated and injured.

My training experience

I took a backwards route to becoming a personal trainer and got my certification in 2020. I've been a group fitness instructor since 2019.