Community Highlights: Meet Jen Borman of Homewerk

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Borman. 

Hi Jen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Pittsburgh and went to Chatham College. At the time it was a private, all-women’s liberal arts college but it has recently become co-ed. I stayed in Pittsburgh and started my career in retail working for American Eagle Outfitters (visual position – corporate headquarters). 

After a few years, I moved to Columbus to work for Express (visual position – corporate headquarters). I stayed there for a couple years and then started a job with BCBG traveling weekly back and forth between Chicago, LA, and Columbus (regional visual manager position). 

After 3 years, BCBG wanted me to move to Chicago but I had fallen in love with my now-husband, Jay, (and I had also fallen in love with the city of Columbus). I had zero interest in leaving and I knew Columbus was home. 

I had always loved fitness. I played tennis in college and started going to aerobics classes with my mom at the local Y at very young age. Growing up my parents were super active so it felt very natural for me to start the next chapter of my life in health and wellness. 

In 2009, I became a certified personal trainer and started “Personal Training by Jen” out of my house in Canal Winchester. I told myself I’d give it 6 months. If things hadn’t taken off by then, I would get back into retail. 

I trained clients and taught fitness classes all over the city. Depending on the studio, I would drive 40 minutes just to teach one class. If someone wanted to workout at 9 PM I was there. One of my very first clients lived in Mansfield and I drove from Canal Winchester to her house in Mansfield on a weekly basis. Look at a map. That’s pretty far. I hustled to get my business going and it paid off because things really started moving. 

Covid was a major bump in the road for my career. When the pandemic hit, I had to stop seeing clients and a part of me died. I had never been so depressed. I loved helping people feel good and when that was taken away from me – I felt lost. I always say – I basically get to hang out with my friends all day and tell them what to do. I’m joking but I love my people. 

I had to shut down for several months. When the time was right, I made a huge pivot and rebranded to “Homewerk.” Everyone was working out at home during Covid so I played off of the word Homewerk and the not-so-great situation we were all in. One-on-one private sessions were not happening and the studios that I taught at had temporarily or permanently closed. 

I needed to keep going and find a way to stay connected to my people. My husband and I got to work and turned the second bedroom of our house (We now live in German Village) into a digital studio. I live-streamed fitness classes out of that second bedroom pretty much every day for over a year. I would wake up and teach a 7 AM class that had 40 people joining me from home. We met outside at a park every Saturday morning (even when it was probably too cold) to workout together and see one another. Covid was so hard and I really do think the Homewerk community saved me (and each other). 

When covid restrictions lifted, I started looking for a space. I will be celebrating my one-year anniversary at my studio in July. Homewerk is on the outer edge of German Village (I can walk from my house) located next to Comune Restaurant and Parsons North Brewery in a lovely second-level loft. 

Homewerk offers private sessions, in-studio classes, live-streamed classes, and weekend outdoor turf workouts (located right below the studio). 

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?
Covid was a major bump in the road for my career. When the pandemic hit, I had to stop seeing clients and a part of me died. I had never been so depressed. I loved helping people feel good and when that was taken away from me – I felt lost. I always say – I basically get to hang out with my friends all day and tell them what to do. I’m joking but I love my people. 

I had to shut down for several months. When the time was right, I made a huge pivot and rebranded to “Homewerk.” Everyone was working out at home during Covid so I played off of the word Homewerk and the not-so-great situation we were all in. One-on-one private sessions were not happening and the studios that I taught at had temporarily or permanently closed. 

I needed to keep going and find a way to stay connected to my people. My husband and I got to work and turned the second bedroom of our house (We now live in German Village) into a digital studio. I live-streamed fitness classes out of that second bedroom pretty much every day for over a year. I would wake up and teach a 7 AM class that had 40 people joining me from home. We met outside at a park every Saturday morning (even when it was probably too cold) to work out together and see one another. Covid was so hard and I really do think the Homewerk community saved me (and each other). 

I remember when I first launched Homewerk so many people reached out to me because they wanted to do the online workouts but didn’t have equipment. Everything was sold out everywhere. You couldn’t find a dumbbell to save your life and if you did it was marked up 300%. I had a ton of dumbbells from being a trainer for all those years so I packed up my 1.5-year-old son and drive around Columbus dropping off dumbbells to anyone who needed them. It was like – We got this. We can find a way to make this happen. Friends would wave from their windows as I dropped off equipment wearing a mask. It was such a weird time. 

When covid restrictions lifted, I started looking for a space. I am so proud to say that I will be celebrating my one-year anniversary at my studio in July. Homewerk is on the outer edge of German Village (I can walk from my house) located next to Comune Restaurant and Parsons North Brewery in a lovely second-level loft. And please don’t mind if I say, that I absolutely love that space. It truly does feel like home in that lovely second-level loft. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Homewerk?
It was extremely scary to try again during (and even after) a pandemic but out of that fear and a hope for a second chance, came so much love and support from everyone I know. 

I am most proud of the community that I have built. It’s stronger now with Homewerk than it was with Personal Training by Jen. Covid changed things for me. I am lucky to say that I came back stronger. That digital community was like something I had never seen before. We were all trying to stay healthy and take care of ourselves during an uncertain time. 

I am known for my workouts and tough love…emphasis on the love. Also, I make a killer peanut butter banana smoothie. 

I think most people only workout with me to get that smoothie! 

I offer private sessions (one-on-one or group), weekly in-studio classes, weekend outdoor turf workouts, and live-streamed classes with an option to do the recording from home that is always good for 48 hours. 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My family and friends. Without those, I have nothing. Oh and my workouts have to be top-notch. You will never take a bad workout with me. Ever. 

Making everyone who walks through my studio doors feel loved and taken care of. I make smoothies for all of my clients. My signature peanut butter banana smoothie always puts a smile on someone’s face after a tough workout… 

Pricing:

• In-studio class $15
• Live-streamed class $12
• 1 person private session $65 (50-min, includes my signature smoothie)
• 2 people private session $100 (50-min, includes my signature smoothie)
• 3 people private session $120 (50-min, includes my signature smoothie)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.homewerk.live
• Instagram: @homewerk.live

Image Credits
Nick Gill