Exploring Life & Business with Renae Jones of Journey Health and Fitness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renae Jones.

Hi Renae, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, uncertainty loomed—not just about the world at large, but also about my personal future. I was grieving the recent loss of my father, and the prolonged lockdown made it evident that the fitness industry would face challenges far beyond initial expectations.

At the time, I was employed at a large gym chain. We were informed that our positions had been eliminated, with the option to return in a lower role accompanied by a significant pay cut. Reflecting on the years I had dedicated to reaching my position, accepting a demotion didn’t feel right. So, I made the difficult decision to resign.

Throughout this period, I stayed in touch with my clients. They were not only facing physical setbacks from the lack of workouts but were also grappling with the mental toll of the ongoing crisis. It became clear to me that I needed to provide them with a space to continue their fitness journey.

With the help of a close friend, I embarked on the challenging endeavor of opening a gym amidst a pandemic. Convincing a retail space owner to take a chance on us, we managed to open our doors in October 2020. My wife, Renae, made a significant career shift, leaving her 31-year tenure in property management to join me in this venture.

The community’s response was overwhelmingly positive. Before long, we had over 300 members. Our gym gained a reputation for being the cleanest in town, staffed by the best team. People appreciated our decision to limit membership to maintain an intimate, boutique fitness atmosphere.

As our business grew, so did the aspirations of our clients. They desired more than just a gym—they wanted a comprehensive wellness experience. With our lease nearing its end, we seized the opportunity to relocate to a more desirable location and expand our offerings. After immense effort and dedication, we achieved this vision in May 2025.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ask any business owner about their path to success, and you’ll likely hear stories of resilience and determination. While we often start with a clear vision for our business, the reality of limited resources—be it finances, personnel, or product sourcing—can present unforeseen challenges. The journey of entrepreneurship demands grit, and overcoming these obstacles makes the eventual success all the more rewarding.

In our case, we faced significant hurdles. A major gym chain perceived our small business as a threat and attempted to shut us down, but the court process proved that we earned our place here fair and square! Despite five years of proven success, securing a larger space for growth was a nine-month ordeal, as many companies hesitated to support a small business. The construction phase brought its own set of issues: delays, subpar quality, and budget overruns—echoing the experiences many of our predecessors have faced.

Yet, as we stand today, witnessing our vision come to life, the trials of the past year fade into the background. The challenges we faced have only strengthened our resolve and made our achievements more meaningful and rewarding.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Journey Health and Fitness?
We like to think that we are redefining the gym experience with our boutique-style fitness center, We have all the perks of a big box gym but with a personalized upscale vibe. We have state-of-the-art equipment in our 20,000 square foot gym, featuring the Proteus Motion machine. We offer one-on-one and online personal training with a highly educated and experienced team. Our wellness experience features spa-like locker rooms, IV Hydration Drip Lounge, Private Sauna Wellness Pods, On-site Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, Peptide Therapy, On-site Physical Therapist, Massage and Stretch Services. Additionally, we have a cozy Café featuring a coffee and protein bar with a supplement retail store.

If you read our reviews, you’ll see we’re celebrated for our cleanliness and the strong sense of community we’ve built. We take pride in knowing each member and their unique story. Many have been with us for years, illustrating that a gym is not solely about physical fitness—it’s a sanctuary for mental well-being. Physical health becomes a natural outcome when we clear our minds and nurture our souls. This is why we do what we do! This has been one of the most rewarding experiences and we feel blessed to be a part of their Journey.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Our advice would be to stick to your core business first. Master it, refine it and build consistency before venturing out to other areas. We made the mistake of trying too many things to generate revenue, and at the end of the day, if we had focused solely on our core business of membership, we would have been more successful much earlier. People always say “stop taking yourself so seriously” and I would say take yourself very seriously, but just have fun doing it!

Pricing:

• $99 Membership

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.journeyhealthandfitness.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyfitness80134
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyfitness80134