Jamie Bandelin grew up loving fitness, going to the JCC of Greater Baltimore as a young child to work out with her mother. That passion continues today, as Bandelin is a personal trainer at the JCC and runs her own small business, Fit by Jamie.
Bandelin is certified in postpartum training but teaches a range of classes and works with a variety of clients at the JCC and through her business.
The trainer has always been passionate about health and fitness, but it rose to a new level after her husband tragically died of a heart attack at age 44 in 2022.
Bandelin said she does training to help people and loves seeing them meet their fitness goals, no matter their starting level.
Bandelin lives in Hunt Valley.
Can you tell me about your upbringing?
Growing up, I went to Baltimore Hebrew. I was a bat mitzvah, but we weren’t super-religious. I loved the JCC, just the sense of community, and I lived literally right down the street, so I was right there. I also have always been into fitness. I used to go with my mom in the ’80s to the JCC, where she was doing aerobics, and I’d be working out next to her as a small child. I’ve always been into the fitness aspect of things.
What do you love about your job as a trainer?
It’s always very important to me, health and fitness. I have a bachelor’s in health science. [My passion has] always been between the nutrition and the personal training aspect of things. For me, after having kids, a lot of feeling like myself again was [found in] exercise and just having that time to work out for myself.
I’ve always wanted to help people, but not necessarily be a teacher or a doctor. I like to help people meet their fitness goals, and with exercise, overall, just feeling better, and taking the time for yourself.
Dealing directly with clients all day takes a lot of energy. What’s that like for you?
I feel like I should have a degree in therapy, also. I am a therapist and also a trainer. But it’s all full circle. I like being there for my clients both physically and mentally. A lot of personal training, when you’re one-on-one with someone, is them telling me every single thing. I like being on the receiving end of that. I like being the person to give advice and to help, in all aspects, not just physically. … It is a lot to take on, but I enjoy it.
Can you talk about diving into the fitness world even further these past three years?
If I wasn’t already crazy about the health part of things, I’m even crazier now. [I want to] keep people healthy and help them realize how important fitness is, and how important taking care of yourself, nutritionally, physically, all the things are. It’s become, obviously, even more important over the last three years.
How has your life changed over those three years?
Everything changed. I started having to work full-time and was building my business. And with the Jewish aspect of things, because I am Jewish, my three children are Jewish, and I am the solo parent, it became a lot more important to me to raise them Jewish.
Can you talk about the renewed dedication you found to raise your children Jewish?
Oct. 7 changed a lot of things for a lot of people, myself included. I want my kids to be proud to be Jewish and to not be afraid. They go to St. Paul’s, so they are the minority. I want them to be taught all the things and be proud of where they come from, and they are. They go to the JCC every summer, so they’re there all summer for camp.
We’ve since started doing Shabbat here and there with my other Jewish friends who celebrate Shabbat. I’m actually going to Israel in November on a Momentum trip that The Associated is sponsoring. It’s a trip for moms. It’s actually going to be the first time I’m leaving my children in three years, probably. It’s a big deal for me.
What do you want people to know about you as a trainer?
As a trainer, we all have different training styles. Mine is a positive one. My goal is never to have somebody come in here and not be able to walk for the next week. I like for people to come in feeling confident and feeling comfortable, and I meet you where you are, and we grow from there.
