Somewhere in between diving off the dock at the lake with my sisters and throwing a pitch at my first baseball game, I found a love for fitness. Running around barefoot in the grass as a child, and skinning my knees falling off of my bike, grew to hours of running through the pristine river valley and counting reps and sets as I pumped iron at the gym with the same exhilarating, fresh feeling I had when I was young. Meanwhile, my mom's shelves were packed with books on low carb, high carb, low fat, high protein, points counting, calorie counting, and every other fad that was hip at the time. Even as a young adolescent, I would read these books and watch my mom try each and every one, with some success, only to go back to the way things were in a short time. As I grew into a full-fledged teenager, I became involved in AA softball, long distance running club, and track and field but always struggled with a negative body image. I started trying out aspects of all the diet books that I had been reading over the years. Thus began my desire to understand food, the human body and the outcome of our health-related choices.

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My passion for diet and exercise grew and was often my escape from the mental and emotional struggles I faced as I entered adulthood. Turning 18 years old hit me like a bolt of lighting and my sense of self worth flew out the window. I would stay up late and often ignore my diet altogether. Months of hard living, and treating my body poorly, led to me looking down at a plus sign on a stick. My life came to a screeching halt. I was pregnant. At nineteen years old, I made the choice to change my life and bring myself back to health and happiness, if not for myself, for the precious little gem growing inside me. I started eating organic whole foods, exercising regularly, practicing yoga, and taking all the steps I needed to improve my life, body, mind and soul. Nine months later, my beautiful daughter was born and, as a single mom, I made a vow to give her the best, healthiest life imaginable, with me as her role model. In 2008, I received my Registered Massage Practitioner diploma, and went on to specialize in women's health and pregnancy treatments. I have fallen in love with my career, but my passion for diet and fitness has always poked its nose out at me, telling me "YOU NEED TO DO THIS!” So, of course, I listened. I have completed personal training certification, and am currently completing an advanced nutrition diploma to receive Registered Nutritional Counsellor (RNC) and Certified Natural Health Practitioner (CNHP) designations.

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I continue to motivate myself every year by setting a new fitness goal. In 2011, I stepped on stage at my first INBF bodybuilding competition and won my class. The biggest win, however, was seeing my 4 year old daughter cheering me on from the stands, and hearing her say how proud she was of me. This year, my goal is to run a half marathon. My little one watches every step I make, every bite I take, and everything (good or bad) that I say about myself. With her as my motivation, I take care of my health and fitness, and am becoming the strong woman, mother, and friend I want to be. I know that in the not-so-distant future, she will become the same.

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My name is Jillian Rieckmann and, as a mom, I know what struggles balancing a family, work, and health can be. I created Shakti Health for women, men, and their families, to help people like you pursue your health and fitness goals. My pledge is to give you the best support and results out there, by guiding you with compassion to take care of yourself, your family, and the earth.