Today we’d like to introduce you to Nemiah Rutledge.
Hi Nemiah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born on September 29, 1987 and spent my childhood on the northside of Jacksonville, mostly in the Brentwood area, except for a brief time when my father’s military career took our family to California.
I’ve always loved to exercise. My dad, Nemiah Rutledge, Sr., taught me to exercise when I could barely walk. To this day, we still exercise together when we see each other. My professional journey in personal training began in 2012 when I met Earnest Maiden, President of The Engineering Groupe. I was at a low point in my life. I had been betrayed by my best friend, lost my girlfriend, struggled through a near fatal health issue, lost my job and didn’t know what to do next.
Earnest noticed that I was in pretty good physical shape and challenged me to become his personal trainer while also furthering my education. He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself at that time. As I trained him, I began taking classes at Heritage Institute (now Keiser University) and researched how to start a fitness business. I also did an informal survey on Facebook, asking for name suggestions for a corporate fitness business. Out of about 100 different names, Body Paradox emerged as the winner.
I earned an associate’s degree in occupational science and then incorporated Body Paradox in 2015. Two years later, I brought on two other trainers to assist me. Now, more than a decade later, I employ ten trainers and Body Paradox Fitness (BPF) has an impressive list of corporate and individual clients.
We champion the mantra: “Change your Body, Change your Life, Change your Future.”
With a unique blend of diverse fitness training options, gym design and community leadership roles, I’ve worked diligently to redefine what it means to be a personal trainer in today’s world.
Rutledge is known for his charismatic, motivational approach and has regularly appeared as a fitness expert on television news stations in the Jacksonville market. He has earned many accolades in recent years, with the highlights that include: being named one of 12 Small Business Leader of the Year winners by the JAX Chamber in 2021, one of Jacksonville Daily Record’s 10 Top Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2022, one of Jacksonville Jaguar JAX MVP Leaders Class X in 2022, one of Jacksonville Business Journal’s prestigious 40 Under 40 in 2023 and Class VIIII of the JAX Chamber Hightower Emerging Leaders Fellowship in 2025. He also readily gives back to the nonprofit community, with a few examples being: runner-up for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fundraising campaign in 2020, runner-up for Episcopal Children’s Services Sole Man fundraising campaign in 2021 and fundraiser for Jacksonville Children’s Chorus by participating in Dancing with the Stars in 2022.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If running a small business was easy, everyone would be doing it. There are plenty of struggles and problems that I prefer to think of as challenges. At the beginning, I had been told “no” 76 times. Yet my 77th exchange became my first contract. Back then, I was catching the bus to train people at their homes, hauling all of my equipment in a backpack. I was also charging lower than industry-standard prices just to get experience and create a small book of business.
Later, I had to work through managing some trainers that failed to show up for trainings, which put my hard-earned contracts at risk. Along the way, there were certainly moments that I did not believe in myself or wondered why I chose this career path. Perseverance is key.
Today, I’ve come full circle. Instead of riding the bus to work, I’m helping JTA and many other corporate accounts with their corporate wellness.
It’s about pushing through your mental doubts and challenges with enthusiasm, discipline and determination.
It’s about learning to tell your story effectively so that people are interested enough to try your service; then ensuring the service you provide exceeds expectations.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a corporate wellness program developer, personal trainer, gym designer and general resource provider that loves what I do. I firmly believe that health is your wealth.
From creating and delivering a variety of fitness classes to appearing on television news for fitness segments, it’s passion project for me that thankfully also creates profits.
One of my most personally satisfying jobs to date is my work an amputee that is one of only four people in the world with a state-of-the-art digital hydraulic prosthetic leg. Teaching her how to improve her mobility and general fitness was new challenge for me that has made a meaningful difference in both of our lives.
How do you define success?
Like Earl Nightengale said, I truly believe “We become what we think about”. I also think a person’s attitude sets the stage for what they desire and expect to happen.
I’ve been told by corporate and personal clients that my positive attitude and dedication to excellence is what sets Body Paradox Fitness apart. To me success is helping people by doing what I love and earning a good enough living while doing it so that I can see more places and experience new things with people I love and give back to those less fortunate.
Pricing:
- My pricing structure is completely customized depending on an individual’s or corporation’s particular needs. Once we understand specific objectives, we can craft pricing for:
- • Personal training (including general fitness, functional movement, high performance, recovery)
- • Corporate training (including fitness classes, comprehensive wellness programs, fitness challenges, corporate retreats/events)
- • Corporate travel-focused fitness (in-chair exercises for long flights/drives)
- • Personal and corporate gym design and construction
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bodyparadox.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyparadox
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HXazwGXs3/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nemiahrutledge-bodyparadox
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bodyparadoxfitness5930
