We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Talya Jackson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Talya, thanks for joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

From a young age, I knew my purpose was to heal people. I didn’t feel called to be a nurse or a doctor, but when I discovered physical therapy, everything clicked. It was the path I envisioned for myself throughout middle school, high school, and college. Before my senior year, I applied to several PT schools, with Winston-Salem State University at the top of my list. I had always dreamed of attending an HBCU, and WSSU had a strong program that resonated with me.

When I wasn’t accepted, I wasn’t deterred. I graduated, packed my bags, and moved to North Carolina, determined to pursue my dream. I got a job I hated, planning to save money, retake the GRE, and reapply. But then the pandemic hit. My job became unbearable, and I was eventually laid off, which—strangely—turned out to be both a blessing and a curse.

Before the shutdown, I had a trainer who believed in me, encouraging me to become a trainer myself. At first, I wasn’t sure, but after some reflection, I decided to give it a try. Just as I began my journey, COVID shut down the gyms. But instead of deterring me, it opened new doors. I’m grateful for God’s guidance, my trainer’s encouragement, and the opportunity to carve out a new path for myself.

Now, nearly four years into running my own training and coaching business, I’ve found a career I truly love. It’s not just about earning a living; it’s about helping others thrive, something I’ve always wanted to do. Every day, I’m reminded that the path I was meant to follow might not have been the one I originally planned, but it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am originally from Washington state and have lived in Winston Salem, North Carolina for 6 years now. I’ve been personal training for 5 years now and been operating my business Re Life Wellness for going on 4 years. I am a personal trainer and health & wellness coach, and I work with busy professionals and parents who want to be stronger, healthier and have accountability in the process. I offer 1-on-1 training, partner training, virtual training, virtual health coaching, personalized exercise plans and I’ve created a wellness eCourse to transform your habits.

I work with people whose goals are weight loss, and we focus on developing the habits and a personalized plan to prioritize movement and healthy eating for long-term success. I also work with people who are older who want to stay active, strong and improve their physical longevity. We focus on strength, balance, flexibility and mobility in their personal training program which is safe for anyone even if they have physical limitations.

One of biggest beliefs is that there is no one size fits all program. Everyone’s lifestyle, habits, and mindsets are different once we begin, and the program has to be crafted to where they are and be good challenge for where they want to be. What someone is ready for, we’ll do and if they’re not ready to make certain changes, we’ll build up to it. And I’m there to guide them, keep them accountable and encourage them along the way.

I’m most proud of how my clients who show up for themselves. It’s not always easy walking in through the door for a session. Yet, they know the time investment is worth it in order for them to be better. It always pays off in the end. It’s important that we celebrate the small victories on the way to the big mountain top because they just as important.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that I have to not undersell my worth. I loved talking with people about their story and their goals but when it came time to tell them my pricing, I’d shy away from it. It truly came from a place of insecurity and lack of confidence in certain areas. It took me a long time to realize that I tied my worth to my price which I’ve learn isn’t the case. I believe I’m valuable because of my knowledge, care, empathy and my expertise to help people learn themselves and become healthier. I’m selling my passion for people more than I’m selling my price. It is important to make a living, but I care most about the impact I can make on each of the people I work with and that is priceless.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Empathy for people is key! People have asked me what it takes to become a trainer, and I tell them frankly, if you do not have patience for people, do not become a trainer. Most people when they come to a trainer, they are in need of help and want to be heard. They might not have self-confidence because of how they feel about the way they look. They could be distraught because they have suffered many injuries and are scared to get injured again but want to be stronger. They might just want time to themselves to work on themselves because they’re constantly pouring into other people. If you can’t hear people especially hear their fears, insecurities and worries, being a trainer might not be your path. You have to be ready to lift them up if or when they make mistakes and encourage them to keep moving forward and give themselves grace. Customer service is required in personal training and the most successful trainers I’ve seen are the ones who help people heal physically and mentally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.re-lifewellness.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/re__life__wellness?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talya.jackson.9250?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talya-jackson-59b31b314

Image Credits

Professional shots done by Devin Lane of Shot Of Positivity (Branding Photographer)