Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Jenni Porter of manhattan

We recently had the chance to connect with Jenni Porter and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenni , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned working with clients is how much people still crave real human connection especially now, when so much of fitness has turned digital. I can’t tell you how many clients come to me after trying AI or tech-driven programs, only to realize they can’t adapt or adjust when life does. Those programs don’t see you. They don’t notice when you’re tired, when you’re stronger, or when you just need someone to meet you where you are.
People don’t want a one-size-fits-all plan , they want to feel seen, supported, and understood. That’s where real growth happens. Watching my clients gain confidence, build consistency, and then inspire their families or friends to do the same has been the most rewarding part of my work. It’s a constant reminder that connection and compassion will always beat convenience.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jenni Porter, a fitness professional and former owner of Jenergy Performance on the West Coast, where I coached and built a thriving community for over a decade. After getting married and relocating to the New York / New Jersey area, I’ve continued to train my longtime clients virtually through live sessions and personalized programs. Through this, I have built connections and client athlete relationships on the east coast where I have expanded my business in this space.
Now, as an Experience Director in one of the largest health and wellness spaces in New York City, I’m focused on bridging high-end hospitality with meaningful, wellness-driven experiences for luxury residential communities and high-profile clientele. My goal is simple and relative to what it always has been which is to impact as many people as possible through authentic, human-centered wellness and continue growing within this industry I love.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my dad shaped so much of who I am. He passed a few years ago, but his voice still shows up in the quiet moments reminding me who I am and what matters. He was the one who taught me that integrity and effort are everything and that no one can take away how hard you work or how you show up.
As I’ve grown, I’ve realized how much of his mindset lives in me, especially when things get hard. When I start to doubt myself I can still hear him saying, ‘Do it scared, Jenni. Just don’t stop.’ That’s become the foundation of how I lead, how I take risks, and how I move through life, with courage, gratitude, and the kind of work ethic I know he’d be proud of.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell her “Babygirl, say YES. Even when you’re scared , GO . Meet everyone you can. Hug harder. Show up to the family parties. Make the memories. Be all there, wherever you are because it really will all be okay. Chase your goals, but don’t forget to love along the way the people, the moments, and yourself. Your people are out there, waiting for you. One day you’re going to look back and realize these are the good ole’ days.”

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest misconceptions in this industry is that there’s a single magic fix for everything, and it drives me crazy! One workout, one diet, one shot, one ‘right’ way. The truth is, there simply isn’t. EveryBODY is different, every story is different, and the real answer to most fitness questions is usually, ‘it depends.’
And here’s another hard truth/fact I’ve learned: not every trainer with a certification is the right fit for you and sometimes, even you don’t know exactly what you need yet (but you do know what you want). This space is full of big egos and quick answers, and too much bad information gets passed around as fact. Ask questions during your sessions your trainer should be able to answer, learn along the way and understand the WHY .
The best coaches or the ones who really make an impact, never stop being students and continue to re educate themselves, because science is always changing which means fitness is always changing. They listen, they educate, and they meet people exactly where they are. That’s where real change happens, its more than fitness whether you know it yet or not.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Live with more Intention! I’ve spent so much of my life caring for others and building community through health and wellness, and I’m so incredibly proud of that. But I’d make more space for myself meaning to nurture my own health, deepen time with my husband and family, and savor the simple joys that make life meaningful. I’d celebrate holidays, adventures, and everyday moments with the same passion and purpose I’ve always poured into helping others live well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @_jenergy_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/get-jenergy/

Image Credits
Arantxa Astudillo & Limitless Photography