Bodybuilder Monique Jones in Two-Piece Workout Gear Leads "Posing Practice"

Monique Jones is striking a pose in her workout gear. In a new social media post the bodybuilder works with one of her clients, showing off her muscular body in a two-piece exercise set. "Posing practice with Jenn! 👙#posingcoach #moemuscle #keepitmoving," she captioned the Instagram post. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits. 

Monique started bodybuilding at sixteen. "I had a gym membership ever since then. I was always intrigued by the weights and the gym atmosphere. A few years go by, about the age of nineteen, I was approached by a trainer and he said 'with your physique you should try and do a competition.' I tried it and did my first figure competition in 2001," she told Promoting Women about how she got her start.

The bulk of Monique's workouts involve strength and weight training to build muscle. According to the Mayo Clinic, strength and weight training help reduce body fat, preserve and increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more efficiently. Strength training may also help you:

• Develop strong bones
• Manage your weight
• Enhance your quality of life
• Manage chronic conditions
• Sharpen your thinking skills

Sometimes, Monique takes her workouts outdoors. "Nothing like getting some vitamin D as you get in a great workout routine! 💪🏾#coachjones #moemuscle #keepitmoving," she captioned a post of an outdoor workout session. 

Monique loves to dance. "I'm just different on all aspects and I embrace it! I'm not one to be put inside a box. Matter of fact, I dance around that box," she joked in a caption of an Instagram video. Dancing is a great workout for many reasons. Not only does it build strength and promote flexibility, but helps you lose weight and even promotes cardiovascular function. A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine determined that people who engaged in moderate-intensity dancing were 46 percent less likely to develop heart disease or die from it than non-dancers. In comparison, moderate-intensity walkers were just 25 percent less likely to suffer heart health issues.

Monique understands the importance of stretching. "Stretching and some good music is good for the soul," she captioned a post. "Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints," says Harvard Health. "Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage."