Jolene Cherry is the go-to yoga instructor and personal trainer in Portland, Oregon, for those looking to reach physical fitness and harmony in life. Combining her passion for travel, physical fitness, and meditation, she studied with renowned yoga instructors in Thailand as well as Hawaii. Jolene also offers guidance for healthy nutrition to strike a perfect balance in your life.
Tell me about your best and worst days at work.
My best days at work are when my body, mind, and spirit are in sync. I feed off this positive energy and direct it towards my clients, which puts us both in the ideal mindset to tackle their fitness goals.
I’m grateful that horrible days at work are pretty rare, but the occasion does arise when the communication between my client and me isn’t gelling. For one reason or another, we can’t get in step with each other, and the session suffers as a result. If this happens, I reflect on the situation during my evening routine so that I can make the necessary changes to ensure my client gets the most out of his/her personal training and/or yoga class going forward.
Who are the clients/what are the projects that you most enjoy working on?
I enjoy the diversity of my work. Every client is unique, as is their journey towards a healthy lifestyle. To maximize the trainer and client relationship, I encourage transparency in our professional relationship so that I can tailor a fitness routine that’s truthful to their goals.
What was your biggest ‘a-ha’ moment?
Gosh, there have been so many since I chose to pursue a career in fitness. That being said, understanding the fundamentals of embracing a healthy lifestyle stands out. You can’t just focus on physical activity and expect extraordinary results. Well-being requires balance in exercise, nutrition, and mental (or spiritual) health. The latter is easily disregarded but is essential to elevate your way of life.
What has been the most important part of your professional journey?
Hands down, building a community, whether it’s online or in-person. After all, it’s in my job title, “personal” trainer.
What risks is your company facing?
Fitness training has been a competitive industry for decades, and there’s no sign of it changing. Perhaps the most considerable risk a traditional personal trainer or yoga instructor faces today is virtual competition. Similar to video streaming platforms threatening the movie theater business model, it’s easier now than ever to set up a personal gym, either with a modern piece of exercise equipment like Peloton, or a yoga mat and YouTube instructor. I, for one, am excited about the tech innovation sweeping the market and look forward to incorporating it into my business model.
What would you do with unlimited resources?
Excellent question, though tricky to answer. Maybe vacation programs that focus on exercise and well-being as you travel to exotic locations around the world. Not so different from what National Geographic has started doing with photography expeditions, except tailored towards a different audience and activity.
When was the last time you totally lost yourself in doing something?
If I’m lucky, that typically happens every day through yoga practice or running. That’s one of the many reasons that I simply adore yoga; it’s a totally immersive experience.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
I love being outdoors, socializing over a good cup of coffee, and visiting a new farm-to-table restaurant.
How do you feel you make a difference in the world?
I love Neil deGrasse Tyson’s general philosophy on life “know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others.” My personal training and yoga teaching style focus on achieving results without doing any harm. There’s no shame in needing a guide to help you on your odyssey, and I consider it a privilege to help others on their path.
You can know more about Jolene Cherry through her Website and LinkedIn.
