Today we’d like to introduce you to Loren Small-Teal.
Loren, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a mother of three kids. I am also an army veteran, I am an advocate of mental health and womens wellness. When I got out the army, I struggled from 2012-2018 to find myself. I probably had like six jobs, but they never worked out because I felt deep inside I had a bigger purpose than keying medical documents, cooking in a kitchen 12-13 hours a day for a hospital, or selling cable.
Once I became serious in fitness, I started seeing changes not only in my physical well being but also my mental. Being a vet, and coming from a not so perfect childhood took a toll on my mental state over the years, and I knew I had to get help. I started going to counseling, but I really didn’t connect with myself until I began working out. Physical fitness is a part of my everyday life outside of my children and personal life. It has made me a better person.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. The rough roads sometimes make for better travel in life because you’re constantly getting dead ends, and turned around but you still get traveling through it. Constantly changing jobs, trying to find something that would cater to my kids needs mostly, but also my own needs. I was scared to step out on faith because I didn’t want to jump and land on my face. I also think it was a lot of things like not having a solid support system, being a Single parent, bad relationships, amongst other things that I had to go through before I could enjoy being who I really am today.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with JoJaRiFitCo – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
JoJaRi stands for Jordynn, Jaiden, and Riley which are the names of my three children. I eventually want to own a gym to leave behind for them hopefully so I thought it was pretty cool to put their names in the business. I specialize in personal training, meal prep, Dancexercise, and motivational pushing. Motivational pushing is a term I made up to describe how I get my clients through their workouts. I try to get personal enough to know my clients, but not make them uncomfortable. Just because we are in the gym for 45 minutes to an hour doesn’t mean we are strictly talking about fitness. Talk to me about life, vent about your day, ask me about mine…. but keep pushing out those exercises while you do so. I like that I’m really growing in my business. I get to network with people all over the city who teach me. I have started businesses before and gave up and I’m happy I’m toughing this out because it is really rewarding. Things, and I am also able to teach as well. I like inspiring, motivating, and pushing people this is a joy to do.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love meeting all the different people in the city because it seems like this is where people from all over the world move to. I like the wing spots on my cheat days too lol.
I honestly do not like traffic! I know that’s at the top of everyone’s list, but It’s a very contentious topic for me because no matter where you go, it’s traffic! I also don’t like that it seems like they are tearing down trees everywhere to squeeze in new developments, but I know we are a growing city so I try to understand.
Contact Info:
- Website: TheThickTeeCo.com
- Phone: 4708986946
- Email: youcancontactlo@gmail.com
- Instagram: Loren.AtL
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