Today we’d like to introduce you to Janelle Lescure.
Janelle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ll try to keep this as concise as I can 🙂
I graduated college, and in an attempt to figure out what I wanted to do, I started working the front desk at SoulCycle. They were booming in 2016 and I was part of the opening team for their Walnut Creek studio. I quickly fell in love. The workout was great, but what was the most amazing was the culture surrounding and their emphasis on building authentic community. It felt like coming home, especially for me who had grown up in a team sports world. I had missed that “we rise together” mentality.
Over time I found myself at a small local studio in San Jose; and this was where my mentor said she believed I would be an amazing instructor. It took some time to find my voice, but by 2018 I was teaching cycling classes. Once I believed I could too, I knew I wanted to keep getting better. I don’t believe in being “the best”; because we can always move the benchmark. There is always a way to improve how we teach.
COVID hit and unfortunately this studio closed. I was so sad. But again… just as the universe does, it took care of me. I found myself managing and teaching for CycleBar, and in this time also became a client at Barry’s. I learned so much from CycleBar and developed more of my personal teaching style, but being a client at Barry’s was so impactful. Strength training helped me prepare for childbirth, and helped my postpartum recovery so much. Having THAT experience – being guided by these instructors through all the changes I was carrying, continued to push me to keep growing too. I pursued my personal training license, and after I had my son I was given the opportunity to become an instructor for Barry’s in the Bay Area Peninsula studios. I hold my time at those locations so closely to my heart.
After teaching for two years with Barry’s, I gave birth to my daughter and we made the decision to relocate to Portland, Oregon. We wanted to prioritize family, and quality of time with our kids while they were young, and moving to Portland has enabled us to do so. I am grateful to Barry’s in facilitating that decision.
Like I mentioned earlier, the universe looks out for us. And through the connection of a coworker and friend, I was able to join the team at the Multnomah Athletic Club as an instructor, and most recently as a founding instructor and personal trainer at The CC Studio in West Linn. I have grown so incredibly much over the last two years here as a trainer. I’ve been a sponge in developing programming that emphasizes functional movement, performance, and adaptability for all ages. I’ve been able to grow my personal brand and business, teaching strength, HIIT, and hybrid classes, while also developing a class series that help women begin in fitness who aren’t sure where to start. I work with people of all ages and backgrounds, and find joy with each client; knowing and understanding that it is never too late to start making good choices, and that there is success to be found EVERY time you show up for yourself and move your body.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not! A lot of my career has felt like I’ve had to fight to get into the positions I’ve held. Nothing has been handed to me. COVID was hard on the fitness industry. It changed the landscape of how people show up, and how studios are run. I had to pivot myself. I have also been pregnant two times. That’s two pregnancies, two leaves, two postpartum. It doesn’t matter how much momentum you build, or how much people love you – when you disappear for 4 months, clients shift and adapt, and for me as an instructor it has felt like starting over every time. Moving states too…. oh boy. People have no idea I’ve been teaching as long as I have. To them… I’m brand new. It takes time to build that trust and community.
I’ve worked hard for each accreditation and training, and I show up for every class knowing that nothing is guaranteed or owed to me. I think that mentality has been my biggest asset when I look back.
Because I’ve had to work so hard, when I show up for clients I am so grateful. For their time, energy, effort. They could workout with anyone or be at any other studio – but they have chosen to spend time with me. I know it’s valuable. As a mom this became even more apparent. I only have so much time and bandwidth for my energy – so where I spend it must be spent well. The 45-60 minutes that people spend with me I want to be challenging (of course), but it should also be fun as heck! There should be joy.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At the surface level I’m a personal trainer. But I also still identify as a lifelong athlete and I’m a mom! These parts of me dictate largely how I program and how I work with people.
There are a lot of trainers who live in extremes. Nothing against them. But I find it unsustainable for where I am in life. And a lot of my clients echo the same thoughts. There is already so much pressure to perform in so many areas – as a parent, a partner, a caretaker, working professional, etc.
We shouldn’t be made to feel guilty because we don’t have the bandwidth or ability to wake up at 5a everyday and wreck ourselves in the gym for 2 hours. I believe the best training is one we enjoy, and look forward to doing.
It also doesn’t need to have all the buzzwords attached. Again… there’s a lot of grey area and some people benefit from progressive overload and training blocks with body splits (what a mouthful).
BUT the majority of us would see a huge benefit from just consistently moving our bodies. Going on a walk with loved ones to get steps in, lifting some heavier weights to gain some muscle and promote bone density, and even taking classes (because a strong community is a huge aspect of health). We don’t need to complicate it. I work with a lot of people who need to be reminded that 1-2 a week CAN be amazing. And it’s better than nothing. I’m proud of that mindset.
I also work with a lot of moms and parents who similarly can be reminded that they don’t need to lose themselves in parenthood. They can still show up and become better versions of themselves, who can then show up as more present and happier parents. We don’t need to become martyrs just because we have kids. The best is yet to come. I love pushing strong moms to be even better than they were pre kids! The moms I work with are strong as hell, and I’d put myself in the corner with them every time. They show up for their village, and push each other to do the hard things.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My family. Full stop.
I wouldn’t change a thing about my life, but the family dynamics growing up were challenging.
You can say you love your family and kids as much as you want – but actions show it. I’ve chosen a career that I love, yes, but it has also allowed me to spend majority of my days with my kids. Playing, cooking, doing life. I don’t want to miss a moment of who they are. I want them to never doubt that I’m there for them, they know they are the most important people to me.
I want to show them that exercise is something that ADDS value and time to our lives. Not as a punishment. We have fun playing and moving, and they get to witness mom having her dream too. I think that’s important as well. Life is too short to not position ourselves in a way that brings us gratitude and joy.
I do everything with my family. Any time not working, is spent with my husband and my kids. I genuinely love it. People offer to babysit all the time, but we turn it down (not as a flex), but because we really do love having them involved with everything we do. And if there’s a place that doesn’t allow kids, then I don’t need to go there in this moment of my life. The perspective shift to me is that I chose to have this wonderful family, and I also will have a lifetime without small children. But I will not get these 5-10 years back. I am grateful every day they wake me up and give me those sweet cuddles and kisses.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janellelescure/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janellelescure
