Jenna Rivera is Training for Life, Not Just Looks

Jenna Rivera’s birthright is health and fitness; a legacy from her father, who founded Planet Fitness before she was born. Growing up, she was a gymnast and swimmer. Jenna took dance as a subject throughout school, and of course, she began lifelong training at the gym as well. But even with this background, passion, and discipline, Jenna’s relationship with exercise has been tested.  She shared her story with us on our weekly live Instagram session #WednesdayWellness.

Her life lessons are standing her in good stead, both in her position as head of marketing for Planet Fitness, and as she asserts herself as a leader in the fitness industry.

Training is in Jenna’s blood

Jenna shares that her mother’s fight against cancer and subsequent tragic passing challenged everything she believed about herself and the role of exercise in her life. “I struggled. I was overwhelmed, grieving, and suddenly, something that I had always loved – moving my body – felt impossible.”

She’s candid about how her grief impacted her ability to stay active, explaining how her loss shaped her perspective on how people engage with exercise.

“People always talk about exercise as being great for mental health, and it is. But what they don’t always know is that when you’re struggling mentally, getting up and moving can feel impossible. That’s why I always tell people to be kind to themselves. Not every workout will be your best. Some days, just showing up is a win.”

This ethos reflects a societal move towards redefining ‘winning’ and recognizing that exercise needs to support physical, mental and emotional health.

Healthy eating is key to building better fitness

Jenna’s mom changed her eating habits substantially when she was first diagnosed with cancer. Although she went into remission for many years, unfortunately she eventually succumbed to breast cancer. Jenna said that during this time she learned how to eat organic, natural foods, cut out sugar and avoid processed junk foods. She says today her way of eating is perceived as dieting, but it is not. It is a healthy way of life and completely natural to her. There’s no scarcity in the way she eats.

Jenna is right, all roads to longevity point to eating closer to nature, fewer additives, more organic and wholesome food. She has a healthy relationship with food and loves to eat.

Why training to be thin mentally is becoming outdated

There was a time when exercising was all about the scale and Jenna admits that she also bought into that when she was younger, but that losing her mom was the catalyst for a massive shift.

“While caring for, and then mourning, my mom, I lost a lot of weight. People were telling me how good I looked and how thin I was, but I wasn’t exercising or eating right. It was the unhealthiest time of my life. It was a real eye-opener.”

While the ‘train to be thin’ mentality still persists in some social influencer spheres, there’s a growing recognition that being healthy is no longer defined by looking a certain way; rather it means building a body that supports your life.

That might mean lifting heavier, running further, or focusing on core stability areas. That may translate into having the energy to keep up with your kids, or in future-proofing your body to support you as you get older.

Exercise looks different for everyone

‘Fitness looks different for everyone, and the fitness industry is adapting to provide more inclusion, something that Jenna wholeheartedly advocates for.

Jenna is also conscious of the role that the industry plays in changing attitudes from ‘I have to work out’ to ‘I get to move my body’.’ “Movement is a privilege,” she says. “If you’re able to walk, run, lift, or stretch, celebrate that. It’s not about punishment; it’s about appreciation.”

Embracing the shift toward strength, endurance, and mental resilience has shaped how (and why) Jenna trains, and drives her ambition to evolve how Planet Fitness supports better health, for more people, no matter what their training goals are.

The bottom line

“The more you condition your body; the more you build muscle and increase mobility – the better off you’re going to be for it,” explains Jenna.

“Training isn’t only about what you see in the mirror now. It’s about the active life you want to be able to live decades from now,” 

Watch The Interview

In our live Instagram @longevity_live interview, Jenna also shared exciting developments that include HYROX in Planet Fitness centers and how they are bringing innovation to the fitness industry.

 

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