Scott Jackson

Let me introduce myself. My name is Scott Jackson. I live in Nevada City, a small rural California town in the Sierra foothills. (Yes- our town was named before the State!) My wife Barbi and I started Scott Jackson’s Real Life Fitness in 1994.

While attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo I earned a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education. Additionally, I hold teaching degrees from Cal State Hayward and Sacramento. Until I retired from 24 years of teaching and administration in 2003, I taught Health and Physical Education. During my teaching tenure I started training clients as a way to supplement my income and to feed my passion for fitness.

Even though I had personally worked out for years, I soon realized that I was totally “green” as a professional fitness trainer. I know now that if I had continued training clients the way I started, I would have been out of business in no time! As my business grew, two things became obvious; (1) that I needed a lot more education and (2) that I needed to create a niche that would set me apart from other fitness professionals. I pursued both strategies.

My reputation as a highly educated trainer grew and my “niche” became evident. Most of my clients fell into this category – they were part of our ‘graying” population that had disposable income, a compromised health history, and needed supervised exercise.

While I was still teaching, Real Life Fitness emerged as a mobile business that trained clients both in-home and gyms. Upon early “retirement” from teaching, Barbi and I opened an 1800 sq. ft facility with three trainers. Within 3 years, we realized that we were going to need to expand our business. We had the opportunity to add another 3000 sq. ft to our facility, so we took it. Currently, Real Life Fitness consistently books 6 to 700 personal training appointments per month including home clients and we also offer a comprehensive small group class program.

Because of the physical condition of our clientele, I require that my trainers not only hold a nationally accredited personal training certification, but also a post rehab certification from AAHFRP. Three of us are also Medical Exercise Specialists. We work with clients that have earned Division 1 scholarships and Formula 1 racers, clients who have suffered strokes and heart attacks or need joint replacement post-rehab, clients in wheelers and walkers, as well as clients with M.S. or Lyme’s Disease and a variety of auto-immune diseases.

Personally, I have used exercise throughout my life as a way to help control my weight and stress. Running has become a bonding experience with my three grown daughters, picking one or two organized events per year (10k, ½ and marathon) to participate in together. Additionally, my area is a mountain biking and hiking mecca peppered with fun trails and dirt roads to traverse.

One of my favorite books to recommend to clients is Younger Next Year by Crowley and Lodge, M.D. It is directed towards men (which makes it stand apart from most health/diet/fitness books that target women) and is written by men in laymen’s terms, making it easy for clients to relate. One of my favorite business/personal development books is “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. I like it because is about adjusting attitudes toward change in life, especially at work, and change is inevitable.
 
Prior to opening our brick and mortar facility, my wife and I traveled often, vacationing in warm tropical locations, but now we spend most of our “free time” visiting our grown daughters and our grandchildren in Ohio, San Diego and San Francisco.

My passion for teaching and fitness are as alive as when I started this journey over thirty years ago. I am honored to continue to be presented with opportunities to share this information and hopefully inspire up and coming Personal Trainers!