Impact Magazine Top Fitness Trainer of the Year 2024.
JESSE BENSON, Fit Integrated Wellness CEO, CPT
Biography
Passionate about personal growth and wellness, I am a dedicated individual committed to helping others thrive. With two decades in the fitness industry, my journey involves pioneering from 30-minute training sessions to the digital realm of online coaching, and now to the helm of an integrated health and fitness facility.
In 2022, I proudly claimed the title of BC Hard Enduro Champion, a sport pushing beyond physical and mental breaking points, shaping my personal training philosophy with resilience and transformative insights.
Commencing my training career at 21, I've devoted 17 years to this field, starting from assisting individuals in gyms at 15 to instructing fellow high school students in gym techniques. My entire life has been dedicated to personal training.
Believing in making clients' needs the "North Star" of our decisions, ensures success in our fitness careers. Passionate about supporting other trainers, I've helped many achieve higher levels of success, realizing that my purpose is to provide opportunities, resources, and tools for success, allowing me to have the greatest possible impact. My career encapsulates a commitment to holistic well-being, reflecting a passion for cultivating strength, resilience, and enduring positive change in clients and the broader fitness community.
THANK YOU
So many people to thank…
Thank you, God, my love Gaezelle, my mentors, my family and friends, partners at Amacon, my back-end team, front end training team, loyal and supportive clients, all our practitioners, our community and fellow training and health professionals.
Nomination Answers
What is your fitness philosophy/why did you become a fitness trainer?
Strength isn't just about the muscles we build, but the vulnerabilities we fortify. We're only as strong as our weakest link. This truth spans beyond fitness; it's a philosophy binding both client and trainer in their shared pursuit. My 'recipe' for success, encompassing ten key elements which is the blueprint in maximizing growth for trainers and clients alike. For clients, a points journaling system that I created, unveils weak links in their habits. For trainers, it's a 'recipe'—10 crucial ingredients refining each session by identifying and strengthening those weak spots.
Professionalism, energy, injury screening—they're pillars fortifying our sessions. From queuing techniques to nutrition guidance, each element fuels comprehensive growth for both trainer and client. In my quest to hire exceptional trainers, I've witnessed the power of this recipe. It's not just an evaluation; it's a transformation. By instilling this philosophy in trainers, I've witnessed its transformative power, shaping some of the best in Vancouver.
Vancouver is a city of opportunities where dreams thrive, passions ignite, and individuals find purpose within their communities. This journey has shaped my belief that strength isn't just physical; it's in fortifying vulnerabilities and pursuing our dreams with unyielding dedication.
At 13, I painted some old, rusted weights that I found in my father’s shed and I put together a makeshift gym in our basement. During my parents' crumbling marriage, I found myself in turmoil. However, I discovered solace in lifting weights- it was as though I was elevating not just the physical load but also lifting the emotional weight I carried. Through this, I forged newfound strength within those well-worn weights, transforming turmoil into resilience.
By 15, I was aiding others in gyms, honing my passion for personal training. Yet, my hometown offered no path for this dream. Disheartened by discouraging advice, I spiraled into uncertainty after high school. Desperate, I prayed for direction every night for 6 months. An encounter in a bakery led to a ticket to Vancouver, a fresh start. Scrubbing toilets and towels at a personal training gym was my big break! Juggling construction work, studies, and training clients, I barely slept, driven by an unrelenting determination.
Walking into an air-conditioned gym as a fitness trainer, I felt the culmination of a lifelong dream. Even in mismatched thrifted clothes, I'd train for free; the fulfillment was incomparable. My journey from construction boots to running shoes marked the realization of my Canadian dream.
My career embodies holistic well-being, emphasizing strength, resilience, and lasting positive change. I'm committed to cultivating these values not only in my clients but also within the wider fitness community. Elevating our industry isn't about new trends; it's about mastering the fundamentals and prioritizing comprehensive client care. My life's work is dedicated to facilitating thriving journeys in personal growth, wellness, and fitness.
How do you give back to the community?
I'm deeply involved in numerous charitable endeavours, and nurturing these connections means exercising our "giving muscles" and inspiring others to do the same. I've embraced multiple communities, serving as a catalyst for others to develop this invaluable quality within themselves.
International Outreach: Arise and Shine Uganda holds a special place in my heart, founded by Sharon Nyanjura, this charity builds a haven for abandoned children. For 15 years, I've supported their cause, contributing to building facilities and providing essentials. Our connection grew deeper when my family fostered a young boy named James after my brother's passing. I've been part of his journey, providing monthly support and receiving heartwarming updates to this day.
My Community Engagement: For eight years, I have hosted weekly free community classes which have been a beacon of unity in my local community. We welcome everyone, regardless of their background or financial status, these classes became a platform to share fitness while cultivating giving spirits. During the pandemic, I took these sessions online via live Instagram and Facebook, offering free workouts that reached thousands, aiming to alleviate stress, bring joy and community during challenging times.
After the Covid lockdown lifted, I welcomed personal trainers to my gym, aiming to keep them active for their mental well-being. To support them further, I offered a year-long 50% rent discount, aiming to to aid their financial recovery, bolster their business and assist their clients.
Charitable Initiatives: Engaging with organizations like The Giving Truck and contributing to charities like the BC Children’s Toy Drive has been a gratifying journey. From donations to active participation, these endeavours aim to meet the diverse needs of our local community. My goal for 2023-2024 is to surpass the donations I reached in 2022, in which I donated close to $10, 000 in monetary donations to charities.
Mentorship & Integrated Facilities: Mentorship is at the core of my passion, from independent trainers, practitioners to university students, I've offered guidance, aiming to empower them to serve their communities better. Through my integrated health facilities, I strive to redefine personal training, bridging the gap between fitness and healthcare, fostering a new generation of health and fitness professionals.
Client Support & Fitness Commitment: My dedication to clients extends far beyond training. During the pandemic I provided free, private online training to a client for a year. He is a special client to me because during my early years in personal training, I assisted this client in staying healthy and fit to successfully beat cancer. Throughout the pandemic and lockdowns, I supplied all my clients with free equipment they could use at home. Over the years, I've also given my clients various equipment, such as bands, ball mats, weights, TRX, and more, when they couldn't afford it or didn't have access to it.
Fitness Community & Future Goals: Founding Fit in 30 Academy and later rebranding it to NPTA reflects my commitment to uplifting aspiring trainers. I dream of an inclusive Fitness for All Society, where everyone has a chance to impact lives through fitness. My goal is to enable trainers to influence a million Canadian lives through NPTA and my wellness facilities.
Share a memorable moment from your career?
One defining moment etched in my career memory is the day I secured my 3rd new gym—a beacon of hope born from adversity.
Amidst losing nearly everything during the pandemic—my marriage, my dad, properties, and my gym due to a defaulting landlord—resilience became my companion. I prayed for guidance, and a miraculous email—fate's nudge toward a nearby facility seeking new management. With immense responsibility for our existing location, the pressure of potential closure loomed. I couldn't bear to disappoint my team of trainers and clients. Yet, through prayer and a newfound partnership, the impossible happened—we found our new home, timing couldn't have been better. The moment I stepped into the new gym, I questioned why this chance was given. The answer was clear: create a place of healing. I embraced this vision, shaping the gym into more than just fitness—a space where holistic wellness that integrates with practitioners would facilitate healing post-pandemic.
This experience highlighted that finding purpose unveils the right opportunities. I've realized the potential for fitness and healthcare to converge, leading me on a mission to bridge this gap. Reflecting on my journey, I recognize the shared challenges of this profession. Yet, it's the shared determination to overcome hurdles that unites us.
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