The Owner
Jessica Knox

Jessica began their health and fitness journey over 30 years ago during high school, where a passion for sports and weightlifting emerged. Participating in the school's Lift-A-Thon, they nearly achieved membership in the 1000 Pound Club, solidifying a lifelong commitment to fitness.

In 2010, Jessica chose to channel this passion into helping others by enrolling in a psychology program at Kaplan University, graduating with honors in 2013. An introduction to nutrition by a Dietitian friend inspired them to pursue certification in health and fitness.

In 2016, Jessica became certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). This period was marked by personal loss, as they lost a best friend to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This experience motivated Jessica to return to California to care for their father, who was diagnosed with cancer. During this time, they also obtained certification through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) and began taking clients at Fitness 19.

In 2018, Jessica enrolled in the Bachelor of Exercise Science program at Concordia University Saint Paul, where they became an ISSA Master Trainer with expertise in strength and conditioning, exercise therapy, and sports nutrition. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to launch their first online business, Valkyrie Health and Wellness, which led to the successful creation of a women’s activewear line sold on Amazon.

As the pandemic eased, Jessica rebranded the business to Valkyrie Health and Fitness, integrating their father's mental health services until his passing in early 2022. After closing the business, they joined California Family Fitness as a Group Fitness Instructor, teaching Body Fit classes and Aqua Therapy.

In March 2024, Jessica relaunched the Valkyrie brand as Valkyrie Fitness, focusing on delivering affordable, high-quality one-on-one and group fitness programs, free from the complexities of a crowded gym environment.