Props for jessica
At Ownit Rx, our community is what makes us strong and sets us apart from other gyms. You’ve probably seen Jessica B. ride in on her bike ready to workout. I know you’ve seen her blast through a workout while she’s encouraging everyone around her. Jessica is an amazing force that brings energy, laughs, and baked goods to those around her. She makes you feel comfortable to just be yourself and silently inspires you to go hard in each workout. Ownit Rx community, we are so happy to feature Jessica in this month’s newsletter. Enjoy!
TELL THE OWNIT RX COMMUNITY A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BOOK, QUOTE, MUSIC OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOU WE SHOULD KNOW?
I love to be in the kitchen, I’m always keen to challenging myself with difficult or unusual recipes and ingredients. I learn a lot about people, cultures, food, sustainability and other random facts when I take on a cooking endeavor.
Why are health and fitness important to you?
As a child I was always in the pool, I joined a swim team when I was 8 and did that all through high school. I enjoyed fitness and feeling strong as well as being part of a team.
When I was 12 I started Tae Kwon Do (“TKD”) and made it to brown belt. This was a rewarding endeavor even though I wanted to do tap dance instead - I got really good at TKD because of my “stick to it” mom for not letting me do dance lessons. When I moved to SF in the early 90’s I joined a gym because I was working 9-5 and knew my body needed to MOVE!
What role has OwnIt Rx and Fabien played in that journey?
I joined Dogtown because I’m lazy and knew if it was more than a short bike ride to the gym I wouldn’t go. Roland (a trainer there) was very helpful and while I was intimidated by never having done any type of metcon before - I loved the supportive environment.
Then I met Fabien and Coach Jay. I honestly went to whatever classes I could fit into my insane 12 hours a day, 6 days a week work schedule. It was great to see the different ways I could strengthen myself. When Fabien said he was going to open his own gym I promised to follow!
Flash forward to the mess that was 2020 - I knew that Guardian Gym (formerly Dogtown) wasn’t my cup of tea and I asked to cancel my membership. I was so stoked when Fabien opened Ownit Rx. I joined as soon as I got back into town, 2nd week of opening I think. Ownit is keeping me on my path to a healthy and happy life.
In your opinion, how is OwnIt Rx different from other gyms?
First of all, no other gym has a Hilda 😊
I’ve been to a lot of gyms, I preferred smaller ones. I always did classes because I thrive when pushed by other people and when I can be a little competitive.Those other gyms didn’t cultivate a feeling of belonging. Ownit Rx is truly wonderful because it’s like having your own personal trainer every time. Fabien designs each workout with us in mind, he knows how to push us, help us improve our strength, and progress with our personal goals. I am grateful that I don’t feel awkward asking for modifications if and when I need them. I always feel challenged and rewarded for each workout.
What does Owning It mean to you?
Owning It means taking control of my path achieving my personal goals. Owning my strengths, as well as, my weaknesses in order to move forward. Sometimes it means modifying my lifestyle, though I particularly enjoy Fabien’s workouts because I will never diet and want to be able to be healthy and have fun!
For those on the fence about getting started tackling their fitness and health goals, what advice would you give?
There’s no better time than RIGHT NOW. I’ve never been a procrastinator so it’s difficult for me to think about being on the fence. I do understand fear though, and I’ll tell you if you are nervous about tackling your fitness & health goals, there’s no gym that is more supportive and inviting than Ownit Rx.
I want to share a quick story about how I was made better by a new member:
We were doing a group workout & had the option of running 8 times or 10 times. A couple of us said 8 but one guy (Tehman) mentioned that he’d been to another gym where people didn’t want to push themselves harder and he WAS going to do 10, whether we did 8 or not. I realized that I needed to step up, continue to go for the extra push and put in the work. My grousing could negatively affect someone else’s goals and I wanted to provide a positive and motivational attitude to those around me. When I first stepped foot in Fabien’s’ Dogtown class with a “I’m not sure I can do this” feeling, everyone in the class assured me I could and I want to be THAT person always.
Thank you for the opportunity, I love you guys!
