It would have been understandable if Jackie Errico had given up when the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the world in March 2020, just one month after she had opened her JE Fitness business in Clarendon Hills.
Instead, Errico almost immediately took to offering her clients an online option they could do at home, which allowed them to continue working out, despite not being able to go into a gym or other exercise facility.
Meanwhile, at the same time, longtime friend Linnea Lones was furloughed from her corporate fitness job at which she managed more than 40 trainers and staff.
The two former North Central College basketball teammates reunited to form Just Lift Fitness, with Lones coming on as a co-owner.
The two women both have trained in many different sectors of the fitness world, from corporate fitness to collegiate strength and conditioning and from family-owned fitness facilities to working with kids with special needs.
“It was pretty terrifying having a new business and having to shut down so fast,” Lones said of the impact of the pandemic. “We knew we needed to keep people engaged, so we quickly offered online workouts. And we continued to grow and actually gain clients.”
While many gyms and fitness centers eventually began offering online workout options, getting an early start with that proved to be a savvy move by Lones and Errico.
“We knew all along that we were in it for the long haul,” Lones said.
Errico said she and Lones gave equipment away to clients so that they could workout at home.
“We did personal reach outs, checking on them and their families to make sure they were OK,” Errico said.
She converted her Clarendon Hills garage into a workout facility, and in November 2021 Errico and Lones opened JL Fitnesss at 154 Burlington Ave., in Clarendon Hills.
“People were excited to be back out and travel outside of their homes,” Errico said.
Brad Angeletti of Clarendon Hills and Molly Bradley of Hinsdale both are very satisfied clients of Errico and Lones at JL Fitness.
Angeletti had seven orthopedic surgeries under his belt when he started at JL Fitness in February.
“I recognized that I couldn’t do this on my own. I needed someone who understands,” he said, adding that his wife had worked out with Errico.
“I made great early progress with them,” he said. “They’re so knowledgeable, almost like surgeons. I’ve been so happy with it and feel like it’s not my money that matters. They genuinely care about you. I could not be happier.”
Bradley said she signed up with Errico and Lones following a January 2020 knee surgery and an ensuing rehab.
“They had livestream workouts and preset workouts with a lot different options when everything was shut down,” Bradley said.
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When the opportunity for in-person workouts returned, Bradley was more than happy to continue with JL Fitness.
“It’s a different workout each time I go, and they keep pushing me,” she said. “They know the human body and how to push clients with appropriate motivation levels. They are extremely passionate and energetic. It’s kind of like a family with them.”
Errico said she has learned through experience that pushing people to the point at which they feel uncomfortable works well.
“Making people uncomfortable provides them an opportunity to show growth and to outperform their personal best,” she said. “I’ve seen it in the NCAA athletes I’ve coached, in the high-performing CEOs, and in the mom or dad who wants to be at peak performance for their family and careers.”
Lones said her goal is to have the most positive impact she can on the lives of the people with whom she works.
“This goes beyond what they see in the mirror,” she said, “It’s changing their internal dialogue, their intrinsic motivation, and their lifestyle.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.