Life & Work with Jen Bigler of Gardner, KS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Bigler

Hi Jen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Overland Park, KS but now reside in Gardner. I ventured out to Florida for about 5years but I came back home in 2019. I grew up playing sports with volleyball being my main focus. I played all year round starting about 5th/6th grade through high-school. Among other physical activities, I continue to play to this day in adult court and sand leagues. I was always a very active kid, could barely keep me inside and sitting still. I am also an avid runner and have done tons of races from 5k’s to 20-milers.. trail and road. Soon on my list is to accomplish my first Marathon!

I found my passion with fitness at a very young age and decided out of high-school that I would like to pursue that. I went to Heritage College KC where I earned my Associates Degree in Exercise Science. I obtained my ACE Certification in Personal Training. I have since gone on to earn more training certifications like: Group Fitness, HIIT, Boxing/Kickboxing, Licensed Boxing Coach, Mittology (boxing), Parkinson’s Boxing Certified, and others… Most recently acquired my CrossFit Level 1 Certification as well. I have worked for a couple of different gyms in the KC area, including: HealthRidge Fitness (now Genesis) & TITLE Boxing Club. I then branched out on my own and started my own traveling Boxing & Bootcamps called Jen’s Body Shop. Which I still operate today! When living in Florida, I taught classes at TITLE Boxing Club and then a local gym called Box Hiit Fitness, while still running Jen’s Body Shop at local parks. Since being back in the KC area, I have continued to run my own training business and then I found Legacy Made Fitness. I started out as just a part-time coach and within the last 2 years, I became the head coach. I program all the Bootcamp & about 90% of the CrossFit workouts. It has been a real blessing to have found such a great place with an even greater community of hard working folks! Earlier this Spring, we opened up a Boxing/Kickboxing gym as well called The Body Shop KC. It too has been a real blessing to bring the sport of boxing & kickboxing to the fitness world and introduce it to the community here in Gardner.

When I’m not in the gym training folks, I really enjoy family time with my pups and my other half doing the things we love like being outdoors & cooking good food!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being in the fitness industry is never a smooth road, but the road is worth traveling! I believe all the hard work, dedication, and perseverance will pay off. As a woman in the Boxing scene, it was and is very hard to earn the respect of others, but I prove to myself and those others everyday that I am here to stay! With just having our boxing gym in Gardner open for a very short time, we have already made statements! One of those statements being the ONLY female trainers from a “non-established” boxing gym to have taken a boxer to a fundraising tournament, and coming out Champs! (we have the belt to prove it!😁) But also, just in the general fitness industry, no matter how good you are, there will always be those people who try to break you or not like you, you just have to figure out a way to stay positive and keep learning and evolving!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I mainly focus on general fitness. Hiit (high-intensity interval training) classes like Bootcamps. I’ve been called a Drill Sargent before, but in a good way! Boxing has always been a passion for me and the main reason why I started in the fitness scene. I love holding punch mitts for people and I am known to be pretty good at it. It’s a great way to get that extra burn and push in your workouts. CrossFit is still fairly new to me but I have learned so much in the last couple of years. I love the concept and it has been fun to see people push themselves to do hard things! I am most proud of what I personally have overcome as a trainer. Believing in myself and taking my programming to the next levels! I enjoy learning and adapting to what the people are in to but still staying true to myself and what I believe works. I love playing games in classes to keep people engaged and having fun! I would say my personality and how I train people sets me apart from others. I care about all folks, from the “little guys” to the “athletes” – I want EVERYONE to feel welcome and feel like they have a place to go to not only get healthier but to have a community of people who care.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I have social media websites you can find me on as well as email/phone.

Legacy Made Fitness : Instagram and Facebook
The Body Shop KC : Instagram and Facebook
Jen’s Body Shop : Instagram and Facebook

Main email – [email protected]
Cell# – 913.313.9152 (prefer text)

Contact Info:

• Website: legacyfitnesskc.com & thebodyshopkc.com
• Instagram: @legacymadefitness – @thebodyshopkc – @jensbodyshop
• Facebook: Legacy Made – The Body Shop KC – Jen’s Body Shop