We recently connected with Jennifer Ritsema and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.
Over 15 years ago I had just uprooted my life and made a drastic change of careers leaving education for the unknown AND moved out to the West Coast. (I am a midwest girl at heart with a LOVE of the beach & nature-outside of all things wellness that is!) While I did some soul searching to determine what I truly wanted to explore as a career I found a retail / customer service position at a local athletic wear company that was expanding all over Southern California. Through this position I was not only able to meet some amazing fitness instructors or as I like to call them, the OG wellness team I was able to take part in a variety of classes and fall in love with fitness so much so that I wanted to share it with my community and friends. One day while on the sales floor, with a dear friend and mentor, I whispered, “I want to do what she does!” (Pointing at a local spin & strength instructor whose class I adored!) My friend and mentor’s response to me was, “Well why can’t you? What’s stopping you?!” I was literally speechless and didn’t move an inch, felt like I wasn’t even breathing for minutes until I finally gasped out the response, “Nothing, nothing is stopping me. I AM GOING TO DO IT!” Later that same day the minute I got home I went on a mad search for the best and closest spin certification. I found one in Venice, Ca at the Madd Dog Spinning headquarters, signed up for my first cycle certification, and that began certification began my career & passion in the fitness arena. To say I was excited and nervous at the same time was an understatement, especially coming from someone who was quite shy growing up. And to add to the story, the exact same instructor who I said I wanted to be like, hired me for my first cycling class: to teach for a local campus recreation department. She found out I was certified and asked where I was teaching, I said no where yet, which was about 4 months after finishing my cert; her response, “You start on the summer schedule in two weeks when your audition goes well, be here tomorrow at 12pm for a trial class.” I had zero time to worry and it felt like all the time in the world to plan my audition, even though it was about 24 hours later. That afternoon, I created my ride, added music to it, practiced at a local gym by myself, then put a microphone on for the first time the very next day and rocked it out on the bike! Thanks to Dana and Marieclare for believing in and supporting me from the very beginning, I am where I am today because of them and cannot thank them enough.
Jennifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My passion for psychology, health and wellness became my career over 15 years ago when I set out to support college aged individuals in navigating a healthy, sustainable wellness regime in the collegiate setting. I worked as the Assistant Director for Fitness & Wellness at Loyola Marymount University from 2010-2017 in Los Angeles, CA. My coaching bug began when I received my Mad Dogg (Spinning) and Barre Physique certifications in 2008; I also hold certifications in Schwinn Indoor Cycling, AFAA Group Exercise, TRX, and I am a 200 hour RYT. Prior to moving back to Michigan in 2017, I was also a member of the Equinox Group Fitness team and attended Equinox exclusive training for: ViPR, Barre, ETC, MetCon3, Pure Strength and Precision Running. A native of Michigan, I received my Bachelor’s of Science from Central Michigan University (’98 Psychology & Human Development) & Master’s in School Psychology (‘01).
I now bring my enthusiasm & passion for ALL things wellness & movement back to West Michigan. Most recently I received my Integrative Nutrition Health Coach certification in March 2021 from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and I have opened up my own Fitness & Health Coaching business, Vibrant Health Coaching with Jennifer. My coaching pillars include: Mindset; Nutrition & Movement; Time & Productivity; Perfectionism & Overwhelm and mantra, “Live Vibrantly Not Perfectly.” A learner for life, I am currently exploring a variety of certifications to support women’s health.
My health coaching clients typically are overactive thinkers & busy professionals who want to stop:
*Missing out on life due to work & perfectionism
*Seeking comfort in food
*Getting restless sleep
*Skipping workouts
My newest program has been growing corporate wellness offerings to include: movement and mindfulness classes; educational interactive workshops; & quarterly challenges. I work with small boutique businesses to large scale global companies both in person and virtually.
I am most proud of my clients and the gains they create & goals they crush with their dedication, effort and energy they bring to each session. A private training client recently stated, “I used to HATE sweating and going to the gym, NOW I get upset when I miss a session or have to re-schedule; my time with Coach Jen is priceless no matter how busy my schedule, she motivates me, pushes me when I think I can’t go any further and is THE one who gets me to move and reach my fitness goals; then challenges me even more. Plus, we may just laugh A LOT during our sessions. Fun, challenging, and educational each and every session.”
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
There is no doubt in my mind, I would 100% choose fitness and wellness as my career path if I could go back in time; my only wish is that I would have chosen it sooner in life. I absolutely love what I do and am always looking to learn and grow within the field. Each day I am grateful for my path, for my clients and for being in a field that is not just a job to me, but a passion.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Although my move back to the mid-west was my choice and one I was truly excited & looking forward to, it was a struggle finding employment in my field. I began to question whether or not I should change careers as well as question my worth. I really was starting all over in my career in my new community even with the wealth and breadth of experiences I had in my tenure out west. I had to approach each opportunity with a beginner mindset yet know & articulate my worth. For the first time in a long time I, (not my clients or employers ) had to be my biggest champion and marketer! I had to seek out the opportunities for both employment and education. And, that sneaky imposter syndrome voice in my head crept back in, yet with each moment of disappointment of not getting the role, client or class, it empowered me even more to keep searching and growing on the path I had chosen. My challenges of “starting all over” helped me grow not only personally but professionally as it was the catalyst for starting my own business, and today I am truly settled and look forward to each day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vibranthealthcoachingwithjennifer.com
- Instagram: @thevibranthealthcoach
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevibranthealthcoach
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-r-b56323b8
Image Credits
Mackenzie Loughead