Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Pereyra.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Juan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Juan Pereyra AKA Jay P and I am a licensed Group Fitness Instructor and Independent Herbalife Nutrition business owner in Houston Texas. I am half Puerto Rican/Argentinean and originally from New York City, I moved to Houston in 2014 after finishing my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Arizona, and since then have been using my passion for learning and helping others into the fitness industry for six years now, earning certifications in various fitness formats and using social media as a means to network and inspire others. I began my personal journey with health and fitness the age of 23, when I suffered an acute heart attack from health complications due to obesity, bad eating habits, and drug abuse. At my heaviest, I weighed over 410lb, and while I’ve always been into performing arts and dance, the idea to fuse dance, fitness, health, and learning did not become an option as a career opportunity until I found Zumba and Herbalife Nutrition in 2012. Since then, through hard work, dedication, consistency, and sacrifice, I have not only been able to lose close to 200lb and completely transform my life physically, but I’ve also taken what was possible for me and turned it into a career path with a driving force to provide the same hope for everyone and anyone willing to learn from my story.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This journey has definitely had its ups and downs! Whenever you’re making a decision to be your own boss and work for yourself, ultimately there are sacrifices that have to be made in order to progress. Whether it be time for fun, energy, money, relationships with people and family; all of these things become affected when you make a huge investment in your future as an entrepreneur. One of my biggest struggles has been keeping the faith and consistency to continue working hard despite setbacks. Often times in a position like this when you think you’ve failed; you want to give up. You’re not guaranteed a consistent paycheck every month, and every day is unpredictable, so you have to be willing to appreciate the good days as much as the bad ones. And that is hard.
Please tell us about your business.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and avid advocate for body image issues, the core of my work centers around preventative healthcare, educating our communities, and showing others what’s possible through my journey on social media. Currently I teach fitness classes online that are available through Zoom by donations, and I run a completely online business called JayP Fitness that offers 1-on-1 coaching services, wellness tips, and nutrition advice, teaching my followers and clients about lifelong health habits and motivation for those struggling to continue to their own journey. The classes I offer range from dance, strength training, HITT cardio, and more, and I also offer fun challenges that motivate people to start their own health journeys. I think what sets me apart is that I offer variety, I ALWAYS ALWAYS give 100% of my heart and energy to my students/clients, I am constantly developing new material and content to keep people on their toes, and my personality I believe is what makes people want to work with me.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In regard to the future, I have some pretty big goals for myself both on a personal and professional level. Personally, the ultimate achievement as a fitness instructor and coach would be to be able to take what I am offering here in Houston and expand it to create a more global impact. I’d like to become a Zumba International Presenter so that I can utilize my passion for dance as an outlet to reach more people worldwide, as well as travel and experience the world beyond American borders. I have always been fascinated by culture and tradition, so traveling is definitely a goal of mine! But here in Houston my dream is to open my very first fitness/wellness center in the next two to three years.
Pricing:
- One on One Coaching – depends on program type ($100 minimum)
- Virtual Fitness Classes – ALL Donations Accepted
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hellofit-challenge.com
- Phone: 832-985-3040
- Email: coachjay_24@yahoo.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaypfitlife
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaypfitness
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