I am a JOGI not a yogi.

​I am a JOGI, not a yogi.
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There is a difference.

Joga is a modality of yoga that has been specifically designed for the athlete. But it's also designed for people who have tight muscles, past injuries and frankly those that just can't move the same way other folks move. If you are someone looking for an athletic style of yoga, then this is for you. 

Actually it's perfectly suited for someone like me. Somedays I am straight up Tinman.
So allow me the time to share why I practice JOGA.

It's absolutely personal....

This has nothing to do with yoga not being a good fit. This is about JOGA being the PERFECT fit.

I have realized that I don't want to disconnect, I need to be fully connected and engaged.
No incense, no candles and definitely no pan flute music playing in the background.

If I'm going to make the time, I need to see that it is time well spent. 

Please don't put me in a room and turn out the lights, if I wanted to sleep I can do that at home.

I don't want to clear my mind of all distractions, I have far too much to get done.

Maybe it's a personality thing..
Maybe it's an analytical thing...
Maybe it just all the reasons why I have taken such an interest to JOGA.

Here are the others...
I am an athlete and JOGA speaks my kinesthetic language.

From a training perspective, I've always wanted to work hard, train hard and be efficient in the time I spend doing so. JOGA is super efficient, as hard as I want to make it and has measurable benchmarks that help me in every other aspect of my life. It can be tailored by each individual person as they progress through the sessions. It has strength, stability and mobility. On the flip side, it has a relaxation component that I find myself using daily.

My Story

Why share a back story? I think it's important to know a person's history, so you know where they are coming from and how they move. I've had my share of injuries, aches and pains. For the last thirty plus years I have moved my body through some kind of athletic movement or another.
Trying new things, and sticking with old favourites.

I played rugby when it wasn't mainstream for women to do so. To this day, the game of rugger would be one of my life long favourite sports!
I actually wanted to play tackle football growing up, but that's another story and another time period that my young tackle football playing daughter does not understand.
I've played european team handball since I was a teenager, and continue to do so today. Never heard of it? Use the magic of google to check it out.
I played field hockey at the university level. Damn those short sticks...Nothing like being a left handed shooter in a game favouring 'righties'.
I have played all kinds of sports, ran half marathons and became an IDFA Figure Pro at the age of 47. Talk about crawling out of the comfort zone.
And in the last 10 years I have cycled over 4500 Kim's through out Europe.

All of my athletic life experiences have had a cumulative effect. Some of it can be seen in the way I move, or more so in the way that I don't move.Some of it can be seen in the imbalances and tightness throughout my body.

I believe it to be true that learning to move correctly is like learning to read. I also believe that the body will detour and adapt when faced with a challenge.

The Good, The Bad and The Better

The good news is that our bodies are amazing structures that can adapt. The bad news is that all that learned movement dysfunction can lead to tightness, injuries, and poor postural movement.

The even better news is that we are always learning and can always improve.
How?

So, in walks JOGA....

Call it fate, divine intervention or just being in the right place at the right time...I signed up to take a JOGA training because I couldn't find anywhere in the Winnipeg area where I could try out the program.
From the first day, I felt comfortable being uncomfortable.
That's what athletes do. That's what people do when they want to make changes or improvements. They get uncomfortable.

But it was also the how...
That uncomfortable feeling was from a mechanical perspective. Immediately my imbalances and weaknesses were evident. I could see how my inefficiencies effected my everyday movements and ultimately my athletic movements.

A checklist was forming and a solution right in front of me.

A solution that with practice, has yielded great results.
That's what everyone wants!
A system of checks and balances to measure progress! A movement system designed so each individual can see measurable improvement!

The program was designed to fit any body and how we move. Never once did I feel a position was contraindicative nor something I could not do at some level. It combines the biomechanics of sport into a system that matches everyday movements and movements that we all use over and over again. It cues into positions that have real life applications, building strength, stability and mobility.

Let our bodies be the guide and inspiration.

Jodian teaches JOGA in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
She teaches JOGA for Health and JOGA for Athletes.
Teams and private sessions available. Connect with her for more info.

More info about the Joga Program can be found at www.jogaworld.com
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