Wende Jones, Owner of Phoenix Wellness Center, Shares Health Insights

Article by Maci Cottingham (2025, April 1). The Kerrville Times.

The Kerrville Host Lions Club welcomed guest speaker Wende Jones, owner of Phoenix Wellness Center, at their Tuesday meeting.

Jones, a personal trainer with 32 years of experience in the fitness industry, began by sharing insights into her background. 

She spoke about raising her three children on a ranch, where they were homeschooled and encouraged to work with animals and connect with nature. Jones believes this connection to nature played a key role in her children's overall health and well-being.

Despite her active, healthy lifestyle, which included regular exercise and proper nutrition, Jones faced significant health challenges. 

She underwent 10 major surgeries.

“Anyone who knew me as their trainer or came to my gym during those years would never have known I was sick, because I learned how to fake it,” she sdaid.

Even her children were unaware of her struggles. 

Looking back, Jones said she feels like the fact that she was “faking it” now makes her even more empathetic toward others’ struggles.

“I will never stand in front of people and say, ‘Why aren’t you exercising?’ or ‘Why did you eat that?’” Jones said.

In 2019, Jones opened Fresh n’ Fit, a combination salad bar and gym, in Ingram. However, due to the challenges of COVID-19, she had to close the salad portion of the business. 

Eventually, she relocated to 124 Blue Ridge West, No. 206, in Kerrville, and she rebranded the business to Phoenix Wellness Center last year. Her rebranding was inspired by her personal health discovery a year and a half ago that she had neurological Lyme disease, which helped her get the answers she had been looking for on why she felt unwell. 

Seeking treatment, she spent two months at a center in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she learned more about the human body and the brain. This experience shifted her focus from just fitness to holistic wellness, the driving reason for changing her business name. 

Jones also shared how her personal life has returned to a homesteading lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of natural elements like sunlight, dirt and being outdoors for maintaining good health. 

As part of her recovery, Jones also had to transition from a vegan diet to a carnivore diet due to weight issues. She initially hesitated at the idea of drinking milk for additional calories, but after trying it, she likened it to “drinking ice cream.”

Curious about the source of the milk, Jones decided to buy her own cow, and she even drives to Gonzales once a month to purchase feed, ensuring the cows are healthy and well-fed.

While Jones acknowledges that not everyone will adopt the same lifestyle changes she has, she believes everyone has the power to improve their quality of life.

She shared some simple tips for improving well-being, such as incorporating box breathing into daily routines. Box breathing involves inhaling for four seconds, holding the breath for four, exhaling for four and holding again for four seconds.

Jones also recommended adding an hour of exercise a day, even if it is just a walk. This has been shown to combat Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that runs in her family. 

She encouraged people to further engage their brains by doing activities such as playing games, altering daily routines (e.g., changing the route you drive) and even brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand.

And, she reminded everyone to “play like a kid sometimes.”

Further tips included eating protein first at meals, researching the health benefits of incorporating certain spices into meals, and avoiding food three hours before bedtime. 

However, the most important takeaway from her talk was that strong social connections are crucial for longevity.

Jones also stressed the importance of sharing wisdom, whether through mentoring, volunteering or other forms of outreach. She highlighted the power of laughter in boosting immunity and improving heart health.

She concluded by offering fall prevention tips, noting that every 11 seconds, a senior is treated in the ER for a fall, and 1 in 5 falls results in serious injury. 

Seniors, she said, should regularly review their medications, ensure their homes are safe, maintain proper lighting and, most importantly, stay active. Jones emphasized that stronger muscles help individuals recover more easily from falls, while weaker muscles increase the likelihood of fractures and other injuries.

Maci Cottingham (2025, April 1). Wende Jones, Owner of Phoenix Wellness Center, Shares Health Insights. The Kerrville Times. https://dailytimes.com/news/wende-jones-owner-of-phoenix-wellness-center-shares-health-insights/article_d54e6b02-5c4c-40c5-bd94-3c34e5aa35e5.html