Local StoriesMay 22, 2025

Daily Inspiration: Meet Jayce Shaffer

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jayce Shaffer.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was a collegiate athlete at University of Akron, Covid happens and I suddenly don’t have a track season with no real date of a return. Falling off my routine was very different from me when the world closed and hours were limited especially in the gym. Then once I started working out again on my own, my friends then asked me to start putting them through workouts. 1 turned into 2 and so forth. Then it became another job. I started hosting Bootcamps through the summer of 21, and I became one of the main trainers in the area. My degree was in exercise science so it wasn’t hard when you understand the body and how factors can affect or prohibit a person from being their best self. Through 2022 I started boxing after graduating college in May, so I taught boxing fitness classes as a job as well as having a job at a private training facility. I was training just about anybody and everybody, all ages, all types of athletes that wanted to get better. I knew that once I was done running track all 5 years of college that was done being lean. I then hit the gym hard, very consistent and always striving to get better. The more studying and knowledge I gained , the more and more I was invested into myself and bettering others health. I was never a big social media person until end of 2022 into 2023 . I started making content and receiving brand deals with companies, business grew and I racked up over 100 clients and 60 athletes. I returned back to Atlanta in July of 2023 to take my business to the next level. I knew it was time to really make this entrepreneurial/trainer lifestyle a priority. I fell into two gyms, one of which ended up closing, and the other not working out long term but I maintained the clients relationships everywhere I went. Found my home in Buckhead at Lion Chaser fitness some months to follow, training NFL & Division 1 level athletes all the way down to coaching youth athletes. I have now been training for 3 years full time with no other jobs, made a name for myself in the Atl fitness community, and have trained and currently train people from all different states and fitness levels. I have built an online presence and a community of 130 people where I give weekly advice and hold many accountable for their fitness goals on my channel on Instagram. I am blessed to be in the position to help out my siblings with their endeavors and my parents with any bills or expenses they may have when needed. Being able to live in what I envisioned years ago and not having to do something I don’t like is nothing without the Lord, my faith got my here and my faith is what is going to continue to get me to where I want to end up a private trainer and gym owner.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all! It was hard. Especially when I was independent for 2 years. Doing house calls, training nurses, and business booming in the summer and almost dying in the winter because of how bad the weather was in Ohio. Bills not being payed on time sometimes, picking up a 3rd job just to pay everything to get situated. I had a handful of my close people who weren’t as supportive of what I wanted to do and be good at. They tried to tell me what I should do and why my career wouldn’t work. Just a lot of hurtful things that I didn’t like to hear (this went on for almost a year and half). My friends and a lot of other people (clients included) kept me going and always gave me encouragement because I was really making an impact on people’s lives and the satisfaction of potentially just extending someone’s life just by making them healthier. Snow! Just the snow alone! Can determine your check because you may not be able to get to work for days at a time. Who knew! Also learning this to create content and push it out to the world. That was an entire job by itself each and every day.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, 3 time all American, a performance coach ( speed, agility, mobility) , track coach, a content creator & powerlifter. I mainly specialize in showing others how to lift heavy without hurting yourself and breaking the narrative of “looking like a man” when lifting heavy with my female clients & followers. I’m known for my hit x core classes at Lion chaser fitness, making fun and creative content that showcases my size, strength, and the harsh truth why many aren’t in shape everyday. I provide fitness knowledge to many who need guidance from the kitchen to the gym, how to gain effective muscular definition and strength on many parts of the body, and how to have fun doing what you love. I’m most proud of my youth athletes that break records (county, state, national) . That excitement for them and the parents is the best thing as a coach you can feel because they may have never had the confidence before or the mindset to be as great as I have helped them to be. Next to that would be being able to travel to fitness events or gyms and people knowing who I am and immediately have questions about how to get into lifting/content, training, etc. it’s fun. I think being selfless and not money hungry is why I’m successful and will have longevity in this realm. I get many clients who have been monetarily abused by other trainers they’ve had over the years and not enough results for what they were paying. I also create a vibe and a environment where it’s fun but serious on getting better in your health and overall wellness. I hold clients and athletes accountable by pushing them to their limits and reminding them why we are here each and every workout.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Fitness has shifted from being small, to a trend just because, and now going forward I see it shifting to a becoming a normal lifestyle just as much as anything else. I think people have realized they aren’t 18,19, or 21 anymore and that their bodies aren’t bouncing back like they thought or health problems are popping up earlier and earlier in age. The fitness world is evolving everyday with new studies, knowledge on multiple supplements that aid in improving health and because of this, more and more people will be able to live a longer healthier life.

Pricing:

Lion Chaser -Unlimited class pass $249 monthly
8 youth training sessions -$360
Personal & Small group training – ranges

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.