Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Guerra.
Hi Jackie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in Plano, Texas, as a young Latina athlete with a fierce love for soccer. I was one of the top players in the country—highly recruited and excited to step into Division I competition at the University of Illinois. But when I got there, reality hit hard. I was benched my freshman year and told I wasn’t fit enough to play. It shattered my confidence—but it also lit a fire.
Instead of giving up, I turned inward. I switched my major to Kinesiology, diving deep into the science of the body and performance. I started developing my own heart rate-based periodization model, built around the body’s energy systems—understanding how to truly train the phosphagen, glycolytic, and aerobic systems to transform the physiological profile of an athlete.
It worked. I became one of the fittest players on the team, helped lead us to a Big Ten championship, and ended my career holding the record for the most wins in a season. My coach was stunned. She asked, “What the heck did you do?” That was a defining moment. I knew I had tapped into something powerful.
By my senior year, I launched an independent study with the Illinois women’s soccer team to test my training model scientifically. The data confirmed it: my methodology had statistical significance and could drastically improve performance by targeting energy system development in a new way.
I was offered an internship with Illinois Strength & Conditioning, but I knew my heart was pulling me west. California was where my vision would come to life. I went on to earn my master’s degree in Kinesiology and conducted a second IRB-approved study that again proved the effectiveness of what would become the Game Ready Performance methodology—showing measurable improvements in max sprint speed, recovery rates, and injury prevention.
That journey—starting as a benched freshman and evolving into a high-performance expert and business owner—taught me the power of belief, science, and self-transformation. Today, Game Ready Performance is the living, breathing embodiment of that story. We’re not just training athletes—we’re activating them, body, mind, and spirit.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road—but every bump, every bruise, and every moment of doubt has shaped the strength I walk with today.
When I started my sports performance business in 2012, former D1 soccer player, BIG 10 champion, and member of the Puerto Rican National team, a young Latina woman stepping into a male-dominated industry in Los Angeles. I was full of passion, but I quickly realized passion alone wouldn’t be enough. I had to prove myself daily—not just in how hard I worked or how effective my training was, but in how I carried myself in rooms where people didn’t always see me for my potential, but for my appearance. I’d show up to do business, and some men would try to reduce the conversation to something sexual or dismissive. I had to learn how to assert my boundaries with grace, without losing the fire in my mission.
I didn’t have investors backing me. Every piece of equipment, every client acquisition, every step forward came from my own grind. I had to teach myself how to manage money, how to price my services, how to build a brand—none of that was handed to me. There were nights I’d cry out of exhaustion or fear, wondering if I could really pull this off. But my purpose was bigger than my fear.
As I scaled, I realized that building a business isn’t just about talent—it’s about systems. I had to step back and learn how to lead, delegate, and design infrastructure that could sustain growth. That process was humbling, but it also helped me grow into the woman I am now—grounded, focused, and aligned with my mission.
I didn’t have a blueprint. I had to build one. And in doing so, I’ve discovered the power of resilience, of listening to intuition, and of never letting anyone’s limited vision define my path. The struggle has become the soil from which I’ve grown the most beautiful, powerful version of myself.
So no, it wasn’t smooth. But it was worth it. And my story is proof that even in a system not built for us, we can build our own.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Game Ready Performance, we are not your average performance training facility—we are a bridge between the science of the body and the sacred path of inner alignment. Based in Los Angeles, we specialize in developing athletes through a multidimensional approach that integrates advanced energy system development, precision-based strength programming, and intuitive recovery strategies designed to unlock the full potential of the mind, body, and spirit.
We’re known for pushing beyond conventional training models. Our foundation is rooted in understanding how the body’s energy systems—phosphagen, glycolytic, and aerobic—interact with strength and power expression. We train with intention, tailoring the intensity and volume of each program to align with the specific demands of our athletes’ goals, whether that’s peak performance, injury recovery, or foundational development.
What truly sets Game Ready apart is the sacred atmosphere we’ve intentionally cultivated. Our facility is lined with sacred geometry—symbols that mirror the natural blueprint of life and healing. We use crystals within the space to support energetic alignment and mental clarity. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating an environment that calls the athlete back into wholeness. We believe physical growth is deeply tied to emotional and spiritual growth. When you walk into our facility, you’re entering a space that honors all three.
We emphasize foot strength and balance, often overlooked but essential in creating powerful kinetic chains. Our work starts from the ground up—literally. By teaching athletes to understand the foundation of their movement, we create resilience, better biomechanics, and long-term sustainability in performance.
Our brand is rooted in truth, transformation, and performance excellence. We are most proud of the results we see—not just in verticals jumped or weights lifted, but in the confidence, clarity, and inner power our athletes walk out with. We serve a community that wants more than just physical strength. They want purpose. They want to feel connected. And we deliver that through an experience that activates the entire being.
We want your readers to know this: Game Ready Performance is more than a training facility. It’s a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to evolve. Here, we remember that performance isn’t just output—it’s embodiment. And we are here to support that journey, every step of the way.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is growth—true, multidimensional growth. The kind that begins deep within the soul and expresses itself outwardly in how we move, how we create, and how we show up in the world. For me, happiness is rooted in transformation—watching it, facilitating it, and living it.
I feel the most alive when I’m creating from that place. Whether it’s through the services we offer at Game Ready Performance, the book I just published, or the music I’ve released as La Laona on Spotify, iTunes, and other platforms—it’s all a channel for that deeper connection to Source. Creating helps me align with who I truly am, and that alignment radiates out into everything I do.
Being in nature is a huge part of that happiness. It grounds me. It reminds me of the sacred geometry we’ve built into our facility, and the natural order that exists within us. When I’m connected to the Earth, I’m connected to my own rhythm—and from there, I can better support others in returning to theirs.
At Game Ready, I get to witness athletes evolve—not just in their strength and speed, but in their self-awareness, their confidence, their energy. That transformation lights me up. Watching someone remember their power and step into it fully is one of the most rewarding feelings I know.
So what makes me happy? Love in motion. Creation that comes from truth. And the ability to help others align with their highest potential—mentally, physically, and spiritually. That’s joy to me. And I feel deeply grateful to live in that joy every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.gamereadyperformance.com
- Instagram: GameReadyP
- Facebook: GameReadyP
- Twitter: GameReadyP
- Other: https://Www.jackiemguerra.com
Image Credits
David Delgado
