Freshfields Village just got a little stronger – and more serene – with the recent opening of Longevity Pilates Kiawah, led by Charleston native Jennie Brooks. With a deep-rooted passion for fitness and wellness, Jennie’s journey began in a family of athletes and blossomed into a full-scale, holistic wellness center in downtown Charleston. Now, she brings that same dedication and expertise to The Village with her new boutique Pilates space, offering a retreat for both body and mind. As part of our Faces of Freshfields series, we’re excited to introduce the vibrant personalities that make The Village so special. Get to know Jennie below and the inspiration behind Longevity Pilates as she expands her wellness community to Kiawah.
Jennie’s Upbringing that Fueled her Passion
We’ve welcomed a new wellness destination here at Freshfields Village, Longevity Pilates, led by Charleston native Jennie Brooks. Jennie’s journey into the world of fitness and wellness began in her own family, where athleticism was a way of life. Her mother and stepfather were both competitive marathon runners, even winning the prestigious Kiawah Island marathon, while her father was an open-water swimmer. This active upbringing had a lasting impact on Jennie, who spent her youth playing multiple sports, dancing, and becoming an avid equestrian.
Jennie’s passion for helping others achieve their fitness goals blossomed during her early career in California, where she trained people for long-distance races. In 2006, she was fortunate enough to study Pilates under the world-renowned Nora St. John. This pivotal experience led Jennie to become a certified Pilates instructor and later, a trainer for others through the Balanced Body education program.
The Flagship That Started It All
Jennie founded Longevity in downtown Charleston in 2015, opening a 2,100 square-foot holistic fitness and wellness studio. Her vision was to create a space where clients could access a wide variety of complementary services under one roof. Over time, Longevity expanded its offerings and footprint, growing to over 10,000 square feet, with three Pilates studios, an open gym, a personal training suite, and more than 80 research-backed group classes. Clients also benefit from a range of wellness services, including massage therapy, acupuncture, stretch therapy, infrared saunas, cold plunges, skincare treatments, chiropractic care, functional medicine, and bio-testing. Now, Jennie has extended her expertise to the communities of Johns Island, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island with the opening of Longevity Pilates at Freshfields Village.
What to Expect at Longevity Kiawah
At the new Freshfields location, Jennie has brought the same luxurious boutique aesthetic that defines her flagship studio downtown. The space has been carefully designed to reflect attention to detail and an atmosphere of relaxation. The beautiful woodwork, crafted by her brother, Eric Brooks, adds an elevated touch of craftsmanship to the studio. Known for his fine furniture design on Sullivan’s Island, Eric’s work perfectly complements the spa-like feel of the studio, which has been described as a “fitness center that smells so good.”
Longevity Pilates at Freshfields offers two state-of-the-art Pilates studios—one for Reformer classes and another for private instruction. The studio is fully equipped with Balanced Body Reformers, Cadillac/Trapeze Tables, Chairs and Barrels. Jennie and her team pride themselves on delivering genuine hospitality, treating clients like guests and expanding their close-knit Longevity community.
A Freshfields Fan at Heart
Jennie is thrilled to bring Longevity to Freshfields Village, a place she knows well from years of enjoying its unique neighborhood feel. Living on Johns Island, she often takes the beautiful drive to Freshfields to do her grocery shopping and visit her favorite restaurants, La Tela and Hege’s. She’s particularly fond of Hege’s special sea bass dish and enjoys attending wine dinners at Forty-Eight Wine Bar.
Beyond dining, Jennie loves shopping at The Village, where she can purchase skincare from Bluemercury, treat herself to a massage at Urban Nirvana Spa, or pick up fitness gear from Lululemon. She even loves taking her son for ice cream dates at Ben & Jerry’s. In an age where so many purchases are made online, Jennie values the social and enjoyable experience Freshfields Village provides. Now, she’s excited to be part of that community, offering her Pilates expertise and a welcoming space for locals and visitors to connect and thrive!
