We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaylin Knight and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaylin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve always believed that when I’m deeply engaged in work I love, the right opportunities naturally present themselves. This was exactly my experience when I ventured into starting my own business.

I was happily working for Fitness Together with a full schedule of clients I enjoyed working with, when an opportunity to rent my own space presented itself. The location and terms were precisely what I had envisioned for starting my business – conveniently within walking distance from my home, situated in a vibrant part of town, and surrounded by a network of holistic health practitioners, ideal for exchanging referrals.

Seizing this opportunity made the leap into owning my business a natural step. I discovered a deep enjoyment in the creative freedom of working with clients. My focus was on training women, designing specialized programs that catered to their needs – creating a fun and social environment where fitness became a joyful part of their lives, not just another item on their endless to-do lists.

As I sought to build a larger community, I expanded my services from personal training to outdoor fitness classes. The necessity for a warmer setting than Boston was clear, prompting my move to San Diego. Here, I have developed the business I run today. The moment I began my own business, I knew entrepreneurship was my calling. I can’t envision myself doing anything else.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My professional fitness journey began during my college days when a suggestion from a beloved instructor sparked me to become an instructor myself. This encouragement led me to become certified and dive into teaching a variety of group exercise classes, where I discovered a profound passion for empowering others through fitness.

Later, after I tested out the corporate world, I realized that fitness was my calling. This passion laid the groundwork for Bootique Fitness in sunny San Diego. Our mission was clear: to create a fitness community dedicated to offering women fun, empowering, and supportive workout experiences. Our classes, from dynamic dance fitness sessions to invigorating outdoor boot camps, were designed to make fitness enjoyable and accessible, fostering a strong sense of community among our members.

Bootique Fitness has always been more than just a place to work out; it’s a community where women come together to achieve their fitness goals and support one another. With the evolving needs of our community and the broader landscape of fitness, we recognized the necessity to adapt and grow. This led us to the next significant phase: specialized online coaching for weight loss.

Understanding the unique challenges faced by many women in their weight loss journeys, our approach diverges from traditional methods like calorie counting or restrictive diets. Instead, our Weight Loss Mindset Mastery program focuses on overcoming mental barriers to weight loss. Through personalized coaching, we aim to cultivate sustainable habits, a positive self-image, and a supportive online community. This initiative marks a shift towards a holistic approach, addressing not only the physical but also the mental and emotional facets of weight loss.

This evolution of Bootique Fitness is about more than physical transformation; it’s about changing our approach to life and well-being. By emphasizing mindset alongside movement, we equip our community with the necessary tools for enduring success.

As Bootique Fitness embarks on this exciting new era, our goal is to redefine what it means to be a fitness community. We’re expanding our reach to empower women globally, offering a holistic approach to weight loss that addresses the root causes of unhealthy habits. This comprehensive approach ensures that every woman who joins our community is not just supported in her physical fitness goals but is also empowered to achieve a healthier, more balanced life.

Challenges Overcome: Transitioning from a secure corporate job to the uncertain world of fitness entrepreneurship in sunny San Diego was a leap filled with challenges. The initial hurdles included establishing a unique fitness brand in a competitive market and adapting to the unpredictable nature of outdoor classes. Rain or shine, the commitment to providing empowering workout experiences for women was unwavering. The true test came with the need to pivot our offerings in response to the evolving fitness landscape and the global pandemic, which pushed us into the digital realm of online coaching.

Lessons Learned: Each challenge brought valuable lessons. The first was the power of community. Bootique Fitness thrived not just on the quality of its classes but on the strength of the supportive environment it fostered among members. Another lesson was the importance of adaptability—being willing to evolve our services to meet the needs of our community, such as transitioning to online coaching for weight loss. This period of growth taught us that true wellness encompasses not only physical health but also mental and emotional well-being.

Our foray into specialized online coaching for weight loss, with the Weight Loss Mindset Mastery program, was born from understanding these lessons. Traditional weight loss methods were not enough; a holistic approach addressing the mental and emotional aspects was necessary. This program doesn’t just aim to transform bodies but to change how our members feel and approach their lives, emphasizing sustainable habits and a positive self-image.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I use my favorite spots as inspiration for things we do as a Bootique Fitness community each month.

Things like:

Rollerblading and biking Mission Bay

Renting paddleboards

Playing trivia at Pizza E Birra

Going dancing at Barley Mash

Taking the boat out on the bay and enjoying the cool breeze

Hiking Torrey Pines or the 5 bridge hike downtown

Happy hours at Ortega’s in Hillcrest

My favorite food splurge is Las Panchitas on Ashford St. I get them to make me a Diablo Shrimp Burrito. I love how spicy it is!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Sabrina Campbell

Website: https://bootiquefitness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjaylinknight

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaylinknight/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaylinsknight

Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/bootique-fitness-san-diego

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BootiqueFitness

Image Credits
Amanda SanMartin

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.