Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nichelle Jenkins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nichelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Hi, I’m Nichelle. Master Health Coach and Certified Personal Trainer. I’m named after the real-life actor who first portrayed the iconic Captain Uhura on the one-of-a-kind TV drama Star Trek. My mission is to help people at every stage boldly chart course toward their strongest selves.

And I know a thing or two about confidently navigating change.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I followed my heart cross-country relocating to Oakland, CA from New York City to marry the love of my life. Before that, I retired from my award-winning career as an employment discrimination litigator and higher education administrator. A lifelong athlete and former Division I college basketball player, I took a risk and followed my love of sports and passion for wellness toward my current career, some 18 years after I got my very first fitness certification and trained clients part-time.

During the pandemic, the fitness industry forever changed. Trainers like me who had exclusively in-person clientele took the leap and moved our practices online or outdoors, both to remain employed, but also to do our part as health professionals to help people stuck at home remain as healthy as possible. Despite the risks, I have built a robust health coaching practice that includes both in-person and virtual clients in major cities around the world, many of whom have remained online with me even now, nearly 5 years post-Pandemic.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In my health coaching practice, I especially love helping midlife adults stay strong, athletic and on top of their game.
A significant focus of my practice is assisting women who, like me, are in the Menopause transition. Menopause is having a moment right now; that is to say, more and more influential voices in medicine, health, and wellness are speaking to the very particular needs of midlife women and women in the Menopause transition.

I take pride in continuing education and training, obtaining certifications that support my clients through life’s many changes and ensure a holistic and functional approach to wellness. In addition to my certification as a Master Health Coach through Precision Nutrition and Personal Training Certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM-CPT) I have certifications and training in Stott Mat Pilates, Pre/Postnatal fitness, Functional Aging, and various other training modalities like kettlebells. Currently I am pursuing training in Z-health, an advanced neuroscience curriculum, and I plan to sit for National Board Certification as a Health Coach next year.

My own credentials notwithstanding, I strongly believe in a team-approach to supporting my clients – not surprising given my background in college athletics. I regularly confer and collaborate with physical therapists, chiropractors, nutritionists and others in the health space that can help me provide comprehensive support and solutions for my clients whatever their wellness goal: body recomposition. weight loss, or simply becoming more strong and confident in their bodies.

In addition to designing and coaching 1:1 and small shared training sessions, I really enjoy my role as a group fitness instructor and corporate wellness architect for Bay Area and New York City values-driven organizations. My clients, corporate staffs, and others with whom I have worked describe my coaching and programming style as fun, challenging, and effective.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I truly believe that my legal and ministerial background gives me a unique lens in behavior change – the heart of what I partner with my clients to achieve as a health coach. But looking back, rather than become an attorney, I probably would have pursued a degree in physical therapy. I love movement and strength and the strategy of personal training and group fitness instruction. I am a coach and encourager, it warms my heart when people discover that they were stronger than they gave themselves credit.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

At the heart of a successful health practice is a genuine curiosity about people and their motivations and an unconditional positive regard for them. Without that, health coaches and personal trainers cannot effectively partner with their clients in reaching the client’s goals; the work becomes very coach-centric rather than client-centric.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nichellejenkins.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nichelle_jenkins