BodySpace Member Of The Month Bry Jensen: Feel The Burn

The fit life moves fast when you are Bry Jensen. A quarter-century in, this Canadian model has flipped through gymnastics and dance studios, figure-skating rinks, and martial arts dojos.

At age 19 she began weight training. By 22, she was a kickboxing instructor, and a personal trainer at 23.

Bry is a sponsored athlete with Magnum Nutraceuticals and an impactful motivator to thousands of exercise enthusiasts.

She knows who she is and why she lifts. She can do it all, and she promises that she will!

What is the bigger challenge, being a fitness model or a personal trainer?

Being a fitness model requires more work. I say that because I am so passionate about training others that it never feels like work to me! I love watching people grow and progress and transform into happy, healthy people with great senses of self-worth.

By comparison, my own cardio seems a lot more grueling! Knowledge-wise they are the same, because you have to know what you are doing to train yourself or anyone else.

You were pretty skinny in 2009 when you started training, but were you out of shape?

I was insanely out of shape; there is no way to sugarcoat that. Walking up a flight of stairs winded me. Running was a no-go. I honestly thought I didn't know how to flex, but the reality was I had nothing to flex! Most importantly, I was exhausted all the time. And at 19, I felt that was a sad way to be.

How do you feel about your physique now?

I feel amazing in ways I never thought I could. My energy levels soar. My strength is tremendous, and it often shocks people that this tiny girl could lift so much. I'm no longer hindered or restricted from living whatever sort of life I want. My body doesn't hold me back now; it propels me forward!

Is music important to you, in and out of the gym?

It's kind of funny because I don't listen to a ton of music outside the gym—I'm a talk radio kind of girl. In the gym, though, music keeps me motivated. It distracts me from the inevitable slowdown of cardio, and also maintains my focus on what I am doing.

The change from chorus to verse is a great way to have a good feeling of how long your breaks are. Music can really help push me through a tough interval.

Fall Out Boy
"The Phoenix"

Ramin Djawadi
"Pacific Rim Theme Song"

Aloe Blacc
"Can You Do This"

Meghan Trainor
"All About That Bass"

What makes you a "fiery redhead?"

I definitely live up to the stereotype! I'm the perky redhead with all the sass! More than that though, fire has always been my signifier. I light candles to relax, can't live without a good fireplace, and get really excited when there is a large fire around. I've taken up fire dancing too, and this feels so good to me! So, the fire in my hair must be the fire in my blood.

My mantra is "embrace fire." I feel like I run on fire, and embracing that is all about allowing my inner drive to fuel me for success. Fire is a strong representation of power in the world, and embracing it is equivalent to embracing who you are at your core, and allowing your power to speak through you.

It's also a nice metaphor for working out. The burn is so good, and you have to love it to ignite the superhuman you want to be!

Your interests are all over the place, from fitness to mythology and parkour. Can you do it all?

"I feel as if my passions for history, fitness, and travel are all governing forces in my life, but they complement each other nicely."

Can do it all, and will do it all! It's hard to say which interest is most important to me, because I feel like you can't be a whole person if you are defined by only one thing. I feel as if my passions for history, fitness, and travel are all governing forces in my life, but they complement each other nicely.

History shapes the way I view and understand my world, but it also fundamentally influences my emphasis on context, and what it means to be a part of something larger. Fitness shapes the way I care for myself and how I structure my day and my lifestyle.

Travel shows me more of the world and inspires me to use my former passions to understand new places and cultures. They're all so intertwined. Mythology is definitely a part of historical understanding. And, well, parkour is just awesome!

How did your life change when you signed with Magnum?

Magnum opened so many doors for me—not only in terms of exposure and my place in the fitness world, but also to a group of amazing people who touch my life every day, products that have truly helped me succeed, and lessons on what it means to thrive in fitness.

I am so grateful to be a part of this team whose members all conduct themselves with such integrity, who care for one another, and who go out of their way to open doors for their teammates. Signing with Magnum changed my life, in that it gave me a new family I now can't imagine my life without!

You're a modern, fit woman who is intelligent, empowered, strong, and feminine. What are we missing?

Humility and sincerity. All the qualities listed are great fundamental ones, but they lack a reflection of personal conduct that I really feel is the key in this industry. The most inspiring women I have met in the fitness world have been the ones I have walked away from, saying, "Wow! She is just the most genuine sweetheart!"

A complete modern woman is someone who cares about the people she interacts with. With empowerment comes feeling amazing about ourselves, but it must go one step further: to celebrating that with others and having them share that feeling. It makes you feel so good to be around someone who lifts you up and shares the positivity of her life!

"With empowerment comes feeling amazing about ourselves, but it must go one step further: to celebrating that with others and having them share that feeling."

In turn, it makes me feel so good to be able to put a smile on someone's face, and have them end our conversation knowing I really heard them.

What are some common lessons you share with people on BodySpace? How often do your "friends" approach you?

I get approached on BodySpace all the time, and I think that's fantastic. People often want to know what sort of workouts I do or what I eat, so it's a great opportunity for me to share the importance of personalized eating.

Many people want to know what it takes to be a fitness model or a sponsored athlete. The best answer to that is the simplest one: Know who you are, know your brand, and live it genuinely!

Can you reach everyone? Do you have to send thousands of personal messages?

No, and I don't, because it's more about just being there and sharing myself as openly and genuinely as I'm capable of doing. Sure, my inbox is always open, my personal messages are always turned on, and I do my best to respond to everyone, because those are the people who feel compelled to speak to me. However, they are not the only people who will ever cross my page, see my tweet or post, or see me bouncing around an expo.

If I can just get them to smile or think about something in a new way, then I have done the job I need to do for that person. I put myself out there and invite response.

How does BodySpace help you with social exposure? How does it stack up against other social networks?

"BodySpace has not only been fundamental in my establishment as an identity in the fitness community, it has helped me forge strong friendships and bonds."

BodySpace has not only been fundamental in my establishment as an identity in the fitness community, it has helped me forge strong friendships and bonds—including with my hero, Jamie Eason. It also helped me establish my personal training clientele. Many of my long-term clients initially found me on BodySpace.

BodySpace differs from other networks in a lot of ways, since it has a specific function. This allows someone like me to share more than just thoughts or messages. It allows me to post every detail, from my weight to lifting stats and supplement stacks, and glean huge amounts of information from other people I idolize and respect. It's one of the most complete social networks out there, for sure.

You've done a bunch of photo shoots over the years. Any tips for someone getting prepared for their first one?

Find someone you are comfortable shooting with, and who understands your experience level.

Prepare your looks beforehand, and make sure you feel amazing in them. Don't hesitate to use a professional for hair and makeup—it can make a huge difference! Once you're in front of the camera, make sure to not worry about what looks good—you can read the "does this look good?" face from a mile away.

Just loosen up, move around, and enjoy yourself!

BodySpace Member Of The Month Bry Jensen: Feel The Burn

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What is the bigger challenge, being a fitness model or a personal trainer?