Arkansas is full of “dynamic duos,” those couples and partners in business who’ve made lasting impacts on their communities. And they come in many different flavors, from community business leaders to those Arkansans making noise on a global stage.
Arkansas Money & Politics wants to recognize them each year, because their work in industry and commitment to philanthropy is something that should be recognized. We’re proud to do so here.
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Dr. Lee Ann and Burke Jolly are the founders of Little Rock-based Jolly Bodies Fitness. Lee Ann serves as creative director and “head fitness geek,” while Burke is COO and “head jolly spreader.” Whether their clients are in the digital studio or the JB Lab, the unique Jolly Bodies method uses “edutainment” (education and entertainment) to provide a positive exercise experience for both body and mind.
Jolly Bodies was born as a Facebook fitness group in 2016 before becoming a full-fledged business in 2020. Lee Ann earned her bachelor’s in biology at the University of Arkansas, where she began teaching group fitness classes her sophomore year. She went on to obtain a Ph.D. in physiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She brings that expertise to bear in each area of the Jolly Bodies curriculum, which focuses on building muscle, moderate- and high-intensity cardio and mobility work. Jolly Bodies serves clients in more than 20 states as well as internationally.
While Lee Ann is the “dreamer, imagination and science side” of Jolly Bodies, Burke is an extrovert responsible for creating a culture of “unadulterated joy.” From the front desk to the studio and everywhere in between, Burke can be found bouncing around, fostering the many relationships that are the bedrock of Jolly Bodies Fitness. Together, the energetic pair make Jolly Bodies live up to its claim to be “the happiest workout place on earth.”
