While meeting a last minute editorial deadline, exercise physiologist and long
time fitness Director Jimmy Pena—would have a profound visual epiphany. A best
selling author and trainer to the stars (with clients including LL Cool J, Tyler Perry
and Mario Lopez) would grapple with the feeling that although he did experience
extraordinary professional success—there was still somehow a missing link. Here
the fitness expert talks with contributor Nicole Chaplin about finally making the
body & soul connection and his mission to bring fitness to the masses.

How did the concept of Prayfit come about. What was the inspiration?
I was so blessed after graduate school to begin working with different magazines,
books, celebrities and great projects realizing what I was doing for the body of the
country but questioning what I was really doing for the body of Christ. As a believer
in the fitness industry, I really wanted to capture what C.S. Lewis so eloquently
said, “We don’t have souls, we are souls, we have bodies”.

While working at Muscle & Fitness magazine as the Fitness Editor, one of the
founders of the magazine was struggling down the hallway. His name is Joe Weider
now 90 years old and walking with a walker across a younger statue of himself. At
that moment it dawned on me on how quick and short this life is and said to myself,

we really need to take care of our soul and our bodies.

The concept of Prayfit was born in my heart about 5 years ago. Prayfit.com began as
a blog. A hub for people with interests of creating habits, spending time with the Lord,
taking care of their bodies, eating right, exercising and it caught on. We are so blessed
to have been able to write a book (Prayfit: Your Guide to A Healthy Body and A Stronger
Faith in 28 Days) that lead to being published and gained attention. Fortunately, some
of my friends in the celebrity world hoisted me up onto their shoulder and allowed the
world to see us here at Prayfit.

Why did you decide to name the program Prayfit?
I was just inspired. I thank the Lord for the concept of blending faith and fitness. When
the apostle John said, I hope you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit and
when Paul said I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should—the
idea that spending some time with the Lord, and then hitting the body with exercise
made the theme come together. The concept just gelled with the word: Prayfit.

 
You went from working at Muscle & Fitness magazine for 10 years to then
creating Prayfit. What has been the biggest change in your way of life?
After graduate school I began as a freelance Science Writer for Muscle & Fitness and
over the course of 10 years I was honored to stand at the gates with Joe Weider and
the great people of Muscle & Fitness. I have been on the newsstands every month since
1999. I have been fortunate to co-author 5 best selling books and I believe all of this
served to prepare me to launch this initiative. It’s not the last fitness program anyone
is going to buy but it’s the one I believe America needs today.

 
Why did you decide that the Prayfit DVD Total Body Challenge would be
a “33” day program?
The number 33 is special and significant for two reasons. Number one, to honor the
life of Christ. He could have chosen any number of years or any timeframe to spend
with us on earth, but he chose 33 years and we can relate to him in so mayways.
Number two, as an Exercise Physiologist, I know a month long program is very
effective at helping creating habits and helping seeing physical change. There's
scientific research to backing this up.

 
On the Prayfit DVD, you include “ Prayfit Minute”; could you explain the concept?
Similar to the Prayfit minute on our website, we provide fitness devotionals. For the
DVD we wanted to provide a shot in the heart, a shot in the arm, a brief motivational
feature to ignite the viewer and motivate the soul. We wanted to motivate the mind
and create a paradigm shift that makes people examine why they do what they do.
This is not about how you look. If you lose weight and your blood pressure drops,
that’s great because they are byproducts of obedience. The real matter is why. We
are wonderfully made; our bodies deserve more attention and up keep. The minutes
are there to keep us going.

 
Could you share with us what are the 3 daily tools you use at the start of your
day to stay spiritually and physically fit?
Number one: spending time on your knees is how we gain strength. Spending
time with the Lord, whether with your spouse, or be it alone, or reading scriptures.
Conditioning the soul is paramount, it’s the most important thing. Number two, is
keeping a journal to write down things of the heart as well things of the body; things
you eat, how you train, pitfalls, stumbles, etc. That is why we also provided a journal
on the website. Thirdly, having accountability: by allowing someone to be that
encouragement in your life. To hold each other accountable and to give each other
permission to do so. I would encourage others to use these tools on a daily basis.
 
For most people their biggest challenge in staying fit tends to be their lack of
time. Can you share with us how Prayfit can still be added into their routine?
I do not believe it’s a matter of time. GOD has given us all the time in the
world. I believe we have to drop certain things. GOD can be blessed by what we
are willing to lay down. It is important to lay down what is holding us back. If
we can’t find the time to take care of our hearts and our bodies, our priorities
may be out of wack. It’s time to pick a fight with our day, we can do it, we simply
need to be disciplined.

 
For those embarking on a new fitness program (especially now at the beginning
of the new year) do you have some key points to help ward of the tendencies to
start (any regimen) but for whatever reasons not see a new program through?
We have all got into our vehicles, turned the key and it won’t start, and we whisper
to ourselves “please, please start” especially if we are trying to get to an event of
a lifetime. We need to think of our souls in the very same way. Our sweet spirit is
whispering to us for those who have thought about it year after year. If that pops
into our hearts, pops into our mind: we have to think “please, please start” – I am
trying to get to an event of a life – that’s your life. We need to listen to our hearts
and souls, consider this and remember it on a daily basis.

 
What are some of the most common mistakes people make as they embark
on a new exercise regimen?
People are too concerned with the “how” of fitness. How to be fit: we all know
how to be fit, we all know how to eat less, or eat healthy. We all know the
concepts. The question is “why”. When people understand the “why” of who made
us. Then “how” becomes easy. “How” is whatever you do and then repeat. That’s
why professional athletes are so good at what they do. They repeat what they are
good at. People need to try things that they are having fun and keep at it.


Could you tell us about your journey into the world of fitness?
I was an athlete my entire life. I grew up in a home that feared the Lord and
put me in sports. I actually started my career in insurance. It didn’t work out.
I knew GOD was calling me into the health and wellness industry.

 
What is your personal fitness regimen like?
It has changed quite a bit. I use to be heavy into weightlifting and strength
exercises. I’ve had some surgeries over the years so now I swim, bike, and do
body weight exercises that we have similar to what is displayed on Prayfit.com.


What's next on the horizon for Jimmy Pena?
I’m trying to listen to the good Lord. I want to be following so close to him,
if I listen to him daily, Prayfit will be just fine. I just want to be covered
in his dust. We have books on the horizon, more DVDs, and a community
that is rising. Day in and day out I want to be using the Lord as our guide.



For a list of great resources and daily new information be sure PRAYFIT.COM.