Dancing With the Stars” pro Jenna Johnson has some easy health and fitness tips that help her stay in tip-top shape as a regular on the dance competition show. Johnson shares her favorite exercise (that isn’t dancing), as well as the importance of focusing on mental health.
Jenna Johnson Shares Her Favorite Ways to Stay in Shape
In a June 2025 interview with First for Women, Johnson spoke about her favorite healthy habits.
Dancing is part of her fitness routine, but she also has another favorite workout. “I dance weekly, not daily unless I’m on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ For me, dance is creativity and fun,” Johnson noted. “It’s full body exercise but never feels like a workout.”
The “DWTS” pro continued, “Pilates is my favorite — strengthening and stretching. I love hot Pilates for the sweat and burn. I do it several times a week.”
She noted, “I used to run a lot, but it wasn’t sustainable. I found the ‘3-12-30’ treadmill workout — 3 mph speed, 12 incline, 30 minutes — that works every muscle. I read while doing it to stay distracted. Sometimes I do HIIT classes with my husband because I like to be competitive and it’s fun to work out together.”
Johnson loves healthy snacks, but also believes in moderation. “Macro protein bars are great. Protein is essential to my lifestyle. I also like crunchy snacks like carrot sticks with ranch, rice cakes with peanut butter, and dates,” she explained.
She added, “I believe in moderation — if I want chocolate at night, I have it without guilt. Moderation lets you have it all.”
Johnson also said she doesn’t give any attention to the numbers on a scale. “I stopped weighing myself. Growing up as a dancer, I was obsessed with the scale, but I decided I didn’t need a number to feel good,” she shared. “It’s about how I feel, not the digits.”
‘DWTS’ Pro Explains the Importance of Focusing on Mental Health
Johnson said that years ago, she began “taking care of myself internally” and caring “less about my outward appearance.”
“When I focused on my mental health, nutrition and what fueled me, I noticed a shift — not just physically, but in how I carried myself with confidence,” she shared. “I wanted to walk tall, open to receiving things. Putting work into myself from the inside created a real change.”
In terms of mental health, she revealed that she looked to “the fundamentals my parents taught me about happiness and success.”
Johnson also credits therapy for “wisdom and guidance,” friends, and self-help books and podcasts. “Focusing on a ‘cup half full’ mindset changed how I viewed everything,” she explained.
The “DWTS” pro noted, “Shifting to a glass half full outlook makes life lighter and more manageable. We care for our bodies, but mental health needs that same effort.”
