![Small [but] MIGHTY](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/534af3cbe4b0abec1443f1ea/1428717495243-LMFNQWMAWR317YA5XXEI/small+but1.jpg?format=1500w)
Meet Jocelynne, Our First Small but Mighty Ambassador!
It takes two to make a thing go right!
Small but Mighty grew out of the inspiration I found in the many strong, kind, boss ladies I met through my work as a personal trainer, Nike Trainer, CrossFit coach, and college instructor. I wanted to bring up-to-date, accurate and interesting information and awesome training opportunities to the public to empower women in all aspects of their lives.
I've had the privilege of working with a number of different women over the last few years, and recently I re-connected with an amazing, kind, and strong woman who embodies all things Small but Mighty: Jocelynne! She is dedicated to living authentically and empowering others to lead a healthy and active lifestyle through her social media presence and speaking engagements, and happens to be strong AF!
Jocelynne is going to be participating in a number of our upcoming projects and initiatives and helping to bring our amazing Small but Mighty experiences to life. We're unbelievably honoured that she has agreed to rep and collaborate with Small but Mighty, and are so excited to be building the #smallbutmightysquad! We thought you might like a chance to get to know what makes her tick, how she trains, and where she sees herself in the next several years! We got a chance to fire some questions her way; take a read below and check out Jocelynne's website to get to know the newest member of the fam!
1) What drew you to 'Small but Mighty' and why do you think this is a good match?
I started attending Jenny’s NTC classes at The Academy of Lions two years ago. Standing at 5- foot-nothing myself, I was totally inspired by Jenny’s small stature. Small but Mighty encompasses female empowerment and Jenny’s approach to training is very much focused on the “why” as opposed to just throwing together some fancy looking exercises, which is what I love. Working with such a knowledgeable trainer who has a real method behind their madness is truly a privilege.
2) Why do you train?
Being able to walk up the stairs and run for the bus without getting winded is nice! In all seriousness though, I’m fascinated by the human body and how it moves. I see training as an opportunity to optimize the way I move in the gym and in everyday life.
3) What is your favourite way to sweat? Do you have a favourite exercise/drill?
There’s something about hot yoga that makes me feel like I’m working extra hard, and I also have a constant love/hate relationship with running. Back squats are my favourite exercise because they make me feel strong.
4) Have you faced any adversity or had any amazing experiences as a female training in co-ed gym or playing a male dominated sport, and if so, what did you take away from them?
Luckily I’ve never faced any adversity training in a co-ed environment aside from being way to intimidated to step foot in a gym when I first began my journey, and even then, gender differences were never an issue.
At the end of the day we’re all human and what we can accomplish physically shouldn’t be defined by our gender.
5) Do you see training as means of empowerment in any other areas of your life? If so, tell us your thoughts and/or about your experience using physical training to succeed in other areas of your life?
Absolutely! I began training as a means to cope with being unhappy with myself, but it has become so much more than that. Being more physically active helped immensely with my mental health and has ultimately helped me feel more comfortable in my own skin.
What really changed the game for me was when I attended my first ever NTC class...alone. I’m an extremely shy and introverted person so going to a new place and not knowing anybody or having a friend to lean on was terrifying. Before I knew it, I was attending different workouts weekly and meeting tons of new people. So although training itself hasn’t helped me leave my social comfort zone, the desire to reach new heights and try new things in my training has helped me overcome that barrier.
6) What is/are your favourite food(s)
I’m a food blogger, so everything is my favourite! My top three definitely have to be yellow mangoes, homemade pizza bagels, and sweet potato maki rolls. Last summer I discovered watermelon with lime juice, passion fruit and a pinch of pink salt. If you haven’t had that combo, you NEED to try it!
7) If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would it be and why?
I would definitely be a Vitamix blender. Have you ever made a green smoothie at home that still had chunks of kale in it? It’s gross! The Vitamix does such a thorough job and I like to think that I’m the same way when it comes to my work & everyday life. I pay attention to the small details that tend to get overlooked and I like to make sure every sentence and photo seamlessly blends with whatever message I’m trying to convey. Does that even make sense?
8) Tell us about your work-life balance
It’s weird - I have a part-time job and then I come home and most of my free time is dedicated to working on my own thing: blog posts, freelance work, recipe testing, and admin. When it comes to working from home, I have a designated ‘office’ space in my apartment and will sometimes go out to a cafe to separate work from home as much as possible. Sometimes that line is blurred, especially because a big part of what I do online is sharing my personal life. Luckily I have friends who are willing to go to run club or train with me. It’s the best of both worlds - getting to spend time with friends while also getting a good sweat sesh!
I recently became obsessed with bullet journalling, which helps me stay organized and stops me from biting off more than I can chew. I schedule my workouts as if they’re appointments I can’t miss, freelance work and blog posts get scheduled in there too, and of course I have full days blocked off for down time. You can do anything, but you can’t do everything. I used to say yes to every opportunity and event that came my way, but now I’m learning how to define what I’m willing to devote my time to.
9) Do you have any inspirational quotes or songs that get you through your toughest workouts?
Any song by Calvin Harris or really any upbeat music gets me through a tough run. I also just try to focus on my breath and get in the zone. It’s a simple technique but it totally works for me.
10) You have the most beautiful website out there! Tell us about your mission, your short and long-term business goals, why you got into the world of social media/blogging, and any issues/topics that are close to your heart!
Thank you! I grew up watching YouTube and reading blogs when they first became a thing and always wished I could be that person creating content that people enjoyed. I just didn’t know where I belonged in the blogging world. All I knew was that I wanted to add value to people with my content. And at the end of the day, my main mission is still to provide my readers and my clients with value.
2017 is going to be the year of putting myself out there more. I’ve only been doing social media as a job since September 2016, so I’m still in that period of establishing who I am and what I do. At the moment I’m writing an eBook that will feature recipes and a guide to healthy plant-based eating, to be launched Summer 2017. I feel like the word vegan makes people want to run away, so I’m trying to make it more friendly and and educate people about it in a way that isn’t totally graphic or in your face. Most of the opportunities I’ve had are food related, but this year I’m looking to throw more fitness and lifestyle topics into the mix - which was actually the original plan when I stared my blog back in 2015.
I don’t know where I’ll be 5 to 10 years from now, and I’m totally okay with that. All I know is that this (whatever “this” is) is eventually going to be my full-time job. I’ve only been doing this for 6 months, so right now I’m just grabbing every single opportunity I can to advance my business in the right direction and put myself out there. I’m just going with the flow and listening to my gut. Although my main message surrounds plant-based nutrition and wellness, I do my best to add an element of realness into my posts. Social media can be a superficial slippery slope, which is an issue in itself. I recently opened up about my struggles with mental health, being an introvert, and regularly document the not-so-glamorous parts of my day.
It’s a vulnerable place to be in, but ultimately I’m trying to create a space that is safe for everyone to open up and have a conversation. The best part of social media being my job is being able to relate to so many people globally, and receiving a resounding “me too!” when I share the deeper parts of my life.
