Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Helms.
Hi Jordan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I got started in fitness — specifically strength training — when I was 13 years old. I had a fascination with muscle. I was a major comic and superhero nerd so I wanted to look and feel like a superhero. At the time, my parent would receive different fitness magazines like Men’s health and Muscle & fitness. So I would read through them and try to adapt their workouts to the few pieces of equipment we had sitting in our basement.
I loved the feeling of strength training so by the time I entered high school, I was using any spare time to train in the weight room including my summers when I would train with the football team.
Quickly, I started to notice the edge strength training gave me as an athlete; and I knew if I wanted to get out of small-town Iowa, I needed a meal ticket.
So I began researching rowing and how universities allowed people who have never rowed before the opportunity to walk on, join the team, and get some of their expenses paid for.
This was life-changing for me – rowing not only helped me pay for school I may have not been able to attend prior but it gave me a team, and friends, and most importantly, it steered me to coaching.
After my time at the Univ. of Kansas, I knew I wanted to help athletes reach their fullest potential so I headed to Massachusetts to get my master’s in exercise science and be the strength coach for their athletic teams.
With most of my graduate classmates headed off to coach at other universities, I took a different turn.
To help pay for my undergrad/graduate studies, I was personally training people outside of sport for strength, muscle, fat loss, and general wellness.
During that time I started to see how large the disconnect was between the general population, quality training, and quality coaching. I felt (and still feel) there is a gap in how much evidence and science-based training is given to people who do not compete in sports. I believe you shouldn’t have to be an athlete to deserve a sound training program and a knowledgable coach.
So unlike my graduate classmates, I chose to leave college & athletic coaching to pursue opening a gym in Kansas geared to helping people build confidence in strength training and technique to achieve their health & wellness goals. I never started a gym so that was an experience all on its own, ha!
But over time I got better at how to make a gym run, be a fun, safe, and inclusive space for everyone, AND get results.
Covid pushed me to pivot. I had to shut in-person training down for some time and move facilities. Because of this, it gave me time to really pursue online training & coaching. I never thought I would enjoy online as much as I do. It’s really awesome to help peeps from all over the country (and a few international!) have a training plan built for them, their schedule, and goals. Online is a great space for peeps who may not need that face-to-face accountability but still need expert-level support.
Because online it allowed me to make the move with my partner to my dream city: St. Pete!
Today – I happily coach people on how to get stronger, build muscle, & define through proper strength training online and in-person.
I am thrilled to have a great place to coach at the BE Athletic gym owned by the Body Electric Yoga & Athletic Company. Every week I host barbell strength classes helping people feel confident and stronger with free weights. As well as personal training peeps to their individual goals
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel fitness as an industry is still very much in its infancy. So knowing at 17, I wanted to make a career in this industry was challenging because A) people think it’s just a hobby B) the path to success is convoluted and C) rarely do people make a sustainable living from it
Every summer during my studies, I traveled around the U.S. spending time with some of the best Strength Coaches out there — I was hoping by doing so would highlight a ‘clear’ path to take for myself. It took me some time, but I learned their path wasn’t mine. Especially, being a non-male in this industry.
A big pivot for me was instead of ‘wishing’ the fitness better, I decided I will try my best to lead it from the front: through professionalism, education, and helping out fellow trainers & owners.
Lastly, business and sales was something I shied away from initialing when opening that gym in Kansas. I knew I needed to get over it if I wanted to be successful.
So I hired a fitness business coach and the first piece of advice they gave me (and words I now live by): if your product/service does a great job, and gets people results, then you should never be shy to sell it. Investing in proper business strategy has completely changed my ability for the better to do a great job and help more people.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a certified strength and conditioning specialist, small business owner, and in-person and online coach.
I specialize in helping people build muscle and lose body fat through evidence & science-based strength training.
I am known for helping she’s/they’s/and gays put on muscle. To grow not to shrink.
What I am the proudest of is being known as the people’s coach in my circles. Meaning, I meet people where they are at, listen, and adjust training to fit them and their goals. I help training be a positive experience for my clients and their bodies. All my coaching is built around the three E’s: effective, efficient, and enjoyable.
What sets me apart from others in this industry is my ability to communicate to reach a common goal, my evidence & science background from years of schooling and mentorship, and my professionalism and organization. I am determined to make fitness a better and more inviting space for everyone.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Seeing people feel confident and strong in their body. To feel like their authentic self.
Strength and muscle are near and dear to my heart because as a non-binary person it has always mattered to me that my body looks how I feel on the inside and vice-versa.
So it’s pretty amazing to now help other people achieve that same feeling too
Pricing:
- $149/mo Online Training & Coaching
- $69/session Personal Training
- $125/ mo Group Barbell Training
- Book a call on the website for more pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jhelmstraining.com
- Instagram: @Coach_jhelms
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordan.helms.33
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/coach_jhelms
Image Credits
Misha Wong Photography Brie & Ian Simmons Photography
