Case Study : JL Fitness - Jackie Lewis
Jackie, 42, said: “I’ve always been interested in keeping fit and I used to be an amateur body builder. I love seeing people getting the results they want and being able to provide them with all the information they need about fitness and nutrition to reach their goals.”
Jackie qualified as a gym instructor two years ago, gaining a YMCA Level 2 in gym instructing with Northern Fitness. YMCA Fitness Industry Training (YMCA fit) is the UK's most prestigious training provider within the fitness industry.
“I run a variety of different classes from spinning classes, boxercise, circuit training, junior gym, exercising whilst pregnant and I also run a women’s running club.”
JL Fitness classes were launched in January with funding and support from Be Enterprising, the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) Programme, which aims to inspire and support enterprise among people in some of the most deprived communities in County Durham.
Amanda Hennessy is Jackie’s business coach at Be Enterprising. She said: “Jackie had a fantastic business idea and came to us for help to make it happen. We were delighted to be able to provide expert advice and support. JL Fitness is proving to be a huge success so far and it is a business that is benefitting the people of East Durham by providing fun and accessible opportunities to keep fit and healthy.”
Jackie has aspirations and ideas to run more classes and is already thinking about taking up more training. She said “I want to start doing day classes; I have ideas of working with older people and training young children in fitness.”
Jackie has two children of her own aged eight and 10 and she is keen on the idea of getting and keeping children fit, as she runs a junior gym.
“I run a junior gym, and we do circuit training with the kids, and active activities like games and sports. I also teach them about nutrition and quiz them at the end of the session. It’s good for them to know that not only do you have to exercise regularly, but you also need a good balanced diet.”
The junior gym is for children aged between 10 and 14, Jackie educates them in nutrition, health and safety and everything they need to know about fitness. The children also take part in challenges, such as bike challenges and running challenges and when the children reach their goals they receive a certificate.
“I try to make it fun for them and to keep them interested by doing all different types of activities.”
Jackie used to be an amateur body builder starting her career in 1989, and even entered the Miss Universe competition in 1994, so she knows all about nutrition and how to get the results you desire.
Jackie still attends her local community centre gym, and it was here where she was first given the idea of going to Be Enterprising from the centre manager.
She said: “It was at my local gym that I decided to go to Be Enterprising. The centre manager told me that they have sessions with Be Enterprising every month, so I thought I’d go along to see what was on offer.”
A woman of many talents, Jackie is a qualified cook and prior to her training to be a fitness instructor, Jackie worked for a coffee vending machine company called Coffee Point.
She said: “It’s totally different to my previous job and I absolutely love it, I can’t spread myself around enough. I love to see people getting the results they want. Be Enterprising has been really supportive throughout my venture and I am really grateful for all the advice they have given me.”
