Doing Well: An Interview With Jo Gale
photo by Yuli Schiedt
I’m so excited to feature my friend Jo Gale for Doing Well! Jo is a movement instructor based in Hamilton, ON. She facilitates a variety of classes at Good Body Feel Studio. Jo’s focus is on joyful movement, body positivity and accessibility. Her classes feel like a place to really sink into you body, explore movement in a safe space and just feel really good! Jo and I work together on a course called Nourish and Flow. Where we discuss ways to interact with the wellness space and health without restriction, obsession and diet culture. Jo shares what brought her to teaching, how she shares a night out and the easiest recipe for pancakes ever!
Can you share a bit about your journey to wellness?
I was working for a fast-fashion retail store as a visual-merchandiser/manager when I took my first yoga class. Once a co-worker there asked me what I would do if I could have any job in the world, and I said “Be a yoga teacher” and almost shocked myself with the answer. I decided to follow that voice, and took my first Yoga Teacher Training in 2013.
I’ve been teaching and studying “movement” for 6 years now, and continue to be a student. All in all I have over 700 hrs of training in Yoga and Pilates certifications, and am completing Dianne Bondy and Amber Karne’s online Yoga For All Training currently, which merges my love for movement, with my work in the area of body image and inclusion.
What does a typical day of work/life look like for you?
My days have changed a lot since having a child. I try to have as much of a personal “routine” as I can, but most of my weekday mornings revolve around the needs of an active two year old. When I get time to myself, I weigh out my priorities and do what I need, not always what I want to. Right now, I am teaching movement classes part-time, while I parent full time ( all parents are full time parents, even if they don’t stay at home). I have my son at home with me three days a week, and he is in daycare part time.
I have one day a week where I teach classes during the day, and one day a week free while Gray has childcare. This gives me time to catch up on the parts of my job that happen out of a class setting, and for self care, which could range from cleaning the house, gardening or going out to lunch with friends. I teach one class on a weeknight after being at home with Grayson, and one class on Sunday morning, so I am very grateful for my free day to find some balance.
My days with Grayson, we try to get out of the house in the morning, we hang out at parks, splash pads or go to local drop in centres. My husband gets home early-ish from work on weeknights, so we try to fit an activity in the evenings, or we go run errands, or simply stay at home and enjoy our backyard, perhaps having friends over for dinner.
What is your philosophy on food + nourishment?
In 2017, I gave birth to my son Grayson. I had gained quite a bit of weight in my pregnancy, and was really focused on losing weight postpartum. I had lost a lot of weight in my mid thirties by using a calorie counting app. I eventually stopped using the app because it made me obsessive, but also because I had learned behaviors of disordered eating by then.
So desperate to lose the weight I downloaded the app and started counting again. My friend Kathryn Bruni Young who introduced me to Christy Harrison’s Food Psych Podcast. Listening to one episode of that changed my life.
The changes my body went through during pregnancy and post-partum, made me open my eyes to some of my behaviour around working out and eating, that were in fact disordered by my lifelong mission to lose weight.
I started learning about disordered eating, health at every size and intuitive eating and it flipped a switch in me. I’m not ashamed of the way my body has changed. I know that no matter how small I can get, those insecure feelings are always there, because fat-phobia is a societal norm. So now I eat what feels right for my body, not what has the smallest calorie count.
Jo with her son Grayson photo by Niv Shimshon
Would you prefer a night in or night out and how would you spend it?
Something I took for granted before I was a mom, was getting to leave the house at night time. So, we stay in a lot. When we were living in Toronto, my husband worked at a record store that sold concert tickets, and we were able to go to a lot of shows.
So although I am not mad at a night in (we get up early and days are FULL), I love a night out. Going out for dinner, and catching some live music would be my favourite way to spend the night.
Can you share any favorite foods, rituals or products you’re loving these days?
Right now, corn is in season in Ontario, and we are loving it boiled and finished on the BBQ. It’s the first summer we’ve had a barbeque! Feeding a two year old is hard work, if I can find something fresh and simple we all like, it becomes the favourite.
I’ve recently started using Province Apothecary’s Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum in my skincare routine and I am loving it. It’s a great oil based serum that I can use with my jade roller, and feels soothing on sun kissed skin.
I am also really into a clothing brand from a mom and daughter team based in Hamilton called Metta. They are a slow fashion, size inclusive brand that makes all of their clothing from sustainable bamboo jersey. Their clothes feel so soft, and are designed to flow with your body.
Share a simple recipe you’re loving these days.
If I can make something that Grayson and I can enjoy together, it’s a win. I’ve been making us simple Banana “pancakes”. This is great because it’s two ingredients with endless topping possibilities.
One ripe banana, mashed
Two eggs
Scramble them together and cook them like pancakes!
photo by Yuli Schiedt
To learn more about Jo find her online!
You can visit her site jo-gale.com or follow her on instagram @jogale.moves
If you are in the Hamilton area pop into Good Body Feel Studio and attend one of her amazing classes IRL and be sure to look for our upcoming Nourish and Flow workshop coming to Toronto and Hamilton this fall!