May 15, 2017

Meet Jan Taylor of Get Lively: Mindful Health and Fitness Coaching in Watertown

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Taylor.

Jan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a holistic health coach, personal trainer, and Pilates instructor, I coach clients on creating meaningful health and fitness goals to optimize their energy and to find peace in their body and mind through personal and small group consultation.

My passion for health and fitness traces back to the 1980s as a young girl jumping along to Jane Fonda videos and begging my mom to wear the gray Flashdance sweatshirt with the cut off neck. From these fashionable beginnings, I focused my energy on performance and the theatrical arts and received a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University, all the while taking an aerobics class whenever my schedule allowed.

As a self-described “people person”, I parlayed these skills into the world of fundraising and event planning where I enjoyed a 15 year career. I reveled in this work, but kept that coveted gray sweatshirt in a chest hoping that it would one day serve a greater purpose…

After receiving my master’s degree in communications management from Simmons College, I decided to continue to feed my desire to learn and enrolled in a Pilates teacher training program through Balanced Body. Pilates had become part of my fitness regime upon the advice of a sports nutritionist after having issues training for a half marathon. I was sold; on Pilates and on the idea of helping others with concerns related to health and fitness. I immersed myself in this world and became a licensed personal trainer from ACE Fitness and a holistic health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition; and through my budding yoga practice, I also became increasingly interested in meditation and participated in several mindfulness training programs through PTCI (Personal Transformation Courage Institute).

My desire to share this knowledge and help others find peace in their bodies and minds through movement and nutrition led me to launch my practice, Get Lively: Mindful Health & Fitness Coaching. I work with client’s one on one and in small group settings to support their health and fitness goals. And yes, I now proudly wear that gray Flashdance sweatshirt as my uniform.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been an adventure, indeed! Speaking with complete and total honesty, I thought transitioning from the esteem of being an assistant vice president, along with its salary and perks, would be the toughest transition. – Wait a second, you mean I can’t buy a new pair of boots every other day? – Well, this actually became the easiest part of the transition, as stuff that once seemed to matter just slipped away. My currency became the look on my clients’ faces when they did something that they didn’t think they could do, or the comments they would make about how they were proud of themselves for prioritize their own well-being. THAT is what fills my proverbial bank account now, and let me tell you, it is brimming!

So, what then was the toughest part? BEING ALONE. I left a role where I managed a large staff, had many resources, had many people doing things to execute my plans, and lots of friends at work. Suddenly, I found myself alone at my dining room table for the majority of the day and it was TOUGH. In the first year of starting my business, I had days where I would only see one or no clients, and it was lonely. No water cooler chats, no assistant to take care of the website or excel; nope, it was all on me. So the first winter was tough, but I learned, I grew, and now I know how to manage my time in a way that feels less isolating.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Get Lively: Mindful Health & Fitness Coaching – what should we know?
If you are interested in feeling more positive, energized, and enlightened each and every day, well then, GET LIVELY is for you!

My mission is to spread love, kindness, good health, vibrant movement, and uplifting energy with YOU!

As a holistic health coach, personal trainer, Pilates instructor – and all around fun person to be around (okay, self-proclaimed) – I am HERE to help YOU feel better about YOURSELF!

SERVICES:
Private Sessions in fitness, health/nutrition, and lifestyle, I will guide you to reach your personal goals through customized and supportive coaching.

Online group health coaching programs focusing on emotional eating, mindfulness, and clean eating in a community based, supportive environment.

Specializing in helping adult women feel strong, confident, and achieve a level of personal health and fitness regardless of the decade in which they now reside. Age is just a number and we are doing planks into our 80s!

KNOWN FOR/Sets apart:
Personalized and encouraging approach and an endless supply of positive – and LIVELY – energy. No cookie cutter plans here. At Get Lively, it is all about YOU and what YOU personally need!

Testimonial from current client:
“Jan Taylor is an old soul with a kind, disciplined, gracious, and joyful way of being. A knowledgeable professional who hunts down and shares every lead on healthy options for mind and body, Jan is the perfect combination of a trainer you don’t want to disappoint and one who encourages you to reach for the stars.”

M. Lord, Weston

MOST PROUD:
That I’ve been in business for three years and started from scratch. I was 37 years old with no experience in the health and fitness industry, but I knew that it was where I belonged, so I educated myself, worked hard, and started my business. And I thank my stars every day that this is my life!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Zayna Gold at Boston Body Pilates – Zayna opened her first Pilates studio in the Boston area in 1989 and has been instructing and training teachers ever since. She made such an impact on me and inspired my career transition.

Pricing: