Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Jones.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My love affair with fitness began in the most unexpected place: tagging along to my mom’s group fitness classes at our neighborhood community center as a teenager. While my high school friends found their rhythm through sports and dance, I was discovering mine in a different way. After gaining weight during my sophomore year, those classes with my mom became my lifeline, not just to movement, but to something much deeper. For the first time, I experienced the magic of community forming around shared goals.
Everything changed when Tammy, the head instructor and my soon-to-be mentor, saw something in me just before graduation. She offered to train me, and in doing so, completely altered the trajectory of my life. I owe her everything. Once she taught me the ropes, I was absolutely hooked.
I carried this passion through college, teaching group fitness classes while earning my Bachelor of Science with a focus on health-centered anatomy and physiology. Even after graduation, when I launched into a career in medical research, fitness remained my cherished “side gig.” Life moved quickly. I married my husband right after college, and soon we were blessed with four children who turned our world beautifully upside down.
The next chapter found us as nomads of sorts, chasing opportunity across the country. First to Boston’s East Coast energy, then to the innovation hub of San Jose, California. Through each move, I stayed personally active, but my fitness career took a backseat to the beautiful chaos of raising four kids with a partner whose work demanded frequent travel.
Then came 2015 and Austin, the place where everything finally clicked. We knew immediately we’d found our forever home, the place to plant roots and watch our family flourish. It was here that fate intervened in the form of a chance conversation with Jennifer Gutierrez at Life Time South Austin. Within two weeks, I was back in the fitness world, and it felt like coming home.
As my children have grown more independent, I’ve been able to transform what began as a beloved part-time passion back into a full-time career. What started as two classes a week has blossomed into a complete schedule. My hunger for learning has only intensified with age. I’ve completed my comprehensive Pilates certification through Peak Pilates and earned my 200-hour yoga teacher training. A few years ago, the opportunity to host fitness retreats opened up, adding another dimension to my work and allowing me to connect with kindred spirits from around the world.
At my core, I’m an extrovert who thrives on helping others feel strong, connected, and truly at home in their bodies. My philosophy is simple: getting older just means getting better.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey has been anything but a straight line. I “fell” into fitness long before it became trendy, and it simply became what I did. Yet the reality of raising four children in nine years, with a husband who traveled frequently, taught me that not everyone truly has the same 24 hours in a day.
I had to become fiercely intentional about carving out time for myself. While I treasured being my children’s primary caregiver, the trifecta of postpartum body changes, chronic sleep deprivation, and no outside childcare created a perfect storm. Finding time for myself felt nearly impossible. Those challenging years became my greatest teachers, showing me how to build micro-routines, swallow my pride to ask for help, and release any notion of perfection.
Another pivotal moment came through an unexpected health journey. In my early twenties, I chose to get breast implants. After fifteen years, puzzling symptoms began emerging: I couldn’t recover from intense workouts, experienced persistent brain fog, dealt with body-wide inflammation, and felt constantly exhausted. After extensive research, I recognized what many now call Breast Implant Illness. Trusting my instincts, I had the implants removed, and within two months, my symptoms completely resolved.
That experience crystallized a core belief I carry into all my work: never take health for granted, and listen when your body whispers so it doesn’t have to scream. The road hasn’t been smooth, but every bump has shaped me into a more compassionate coach and left me deeply grateful for a body that keeps getting stronger.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Today, I lead a full slate of classes at Life Time South Austin, where my schedule includes large group classes in strength, sculpt, Pilates, and yoga, alongside small-group training and private Pilates sessions. My classes regularly hit waitlists and draw 50+ participants, but what I’m most proud of isn’t the numbers. It’s the loyal Austin community that keeps showing up week after week, the relationships built through shared sweat and determination.
What sets me apart is something I’ve cultivated over two decades in this industry: the marriage of smart progressions with crystal-clear cueing in an environment where everyone feels genuinely seen. Regardless of who I am working with, my approach remains rooted in compassion and connection. I’ve learned that people don’t just want to get stronger physically; they want to feel at home in their bodies and part of something bigger than themselves.
Beyond the studio, I host destination fitness retreats that blend everything I’m passionate about. Picture this: twice-daily workouts weaving together strength training, yoga, Pilates, and recovery work, complemented by farm-to-table cuisine and soul-restoring excursions like snorkeling and massages. My next retreat unfolds on a private island in Belize this February 2026, a perfect embodiment of my belief that fitness should feel like an adventure, not a chore.
After twenty-plus years in this industry, I’m still evolving, still learning. What drives me most is that moment when someone discovers they’re capable of more than they imagined, when they realize their body isn’t something to fight against but something to celebrate. That’s the magic I get to witness every single day.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m endlessly grateful for this vibrant South Austin community that has embraced me with open arms, proving that fitness truly is better together. If you’re curious about what we’re building at Life Time South Austin, come move with us. Whether you’re drawn to the energy of a packed group class or prefer the focused attention of one-on-one training, there’s a place for you here.
For those ready for the ultimate adventure, my five-day retreat on a private island in Belize this February 2026 is calling your name. Imagine starting your mornings with intentional movement, diving into strength sessions overlooking turquoise waters, and ending your days with restorative stretches as the sun sets over the Caribbean.
If you’re just starting or restarting your fitness journey, let me share what I’ve learned after two decades of helping people transform their relationship with movement: keep it beautifully simple. Move daily, prioritize protein, stay hydrated, and fiercely protect your sleep. Remember, consistency will always beat intensity, and you don’t need perfect. You just need to take the next right step.
If you want a cheerleader who understands the real struggles and celebrates the small victories, you’ve got one in me. Come say hi on Instagram @sarahjones.fit. I’d love to see you in class or on a beach mat soon, because getting older really does just mean getting better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarahjonesfitness.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahjones.fit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.f.jones.35/
- Other: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/saltwater-soul-a-transformational-fitness-retreat-in-belize-sarah-jones-53768941
Image Credits
Keelyn Costello
