June 27, 2023 • 27 mins
Today we speak to Eljay Anderson, owner of Rural Health Collective. Rural Health Collective is an online fitness, coaching and mentoring platform. Eljay started her business to share her experience of gaining confidence and strength through physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
Eljay offers a range of programmes which are tailored to potential clients’ goals. She has recently developed Project Evolve, a 12 week programme designed to help women live their best lives.
Eljay talks to us about her experience with our Activator programme last year, her own health and fitness journey, and the importance it has played in shaping her life.
You take a look at Rural Health Collective here: https://www.ruralhealthcollective.com/?fbclid=IwAR3TYgpRdsdgkWCS-KBlvX30ssjYiCpVSARdupgvAUhRw8ekMaLqXUJstKA
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to the Black Keels and Tractor Wheels podcast, where
we are sharing stories from a range of women from
around New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
For nearly a century, Rural Women New Zealand has been
dedicated to strengthening and supporting women and children to become
empowered members of their communities.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We hope that by hearing these stories from inspiring women
all around the country, you'll feel inspired yourself.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We're your hosts, Emma Higgins and Claire Williamson and would
love for you to join and subscribe to our podcast
so you don't miss our rural stories.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Now, is it l J.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Yeah, that's very great.
Speaker 5 (00:42):
I was a little worried that I might get that wrong,
but hey, thank you so much for joining me today
from the beautiful Tiaco in Northern Way, Catur. I wanted
to start off a wee bit by asking you a
little bit about your childhood and some of your experiences
growing up where you grew up, potentially a few funny
(01:04):
wee stories if those come up for you, and whether
or not you've always lived rurally. So obviously you now do,
but is that always been the case.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Yeah, So I spent the first like nineteen years of
my life on a little lifestyle block out the back
of Englewood in the Tatanuki region. So mom and dad
had like thirty six acres there, so very small, but
we had access to thousands of acres to ride horses over.
(01:37):
So very much used to the rural life all my life. Yeah,
grew up with horses, went to a small country school,
always dabbled in calf and lambdays, had my calves and
my lands every year for school would always get placed
because I spent hours and hours with those calves and lands,
(01:59):
Like I think Mum and Dad struggled to get me inside.
Most of my childhood very blessed childhood, like I could
not imagine having lived any other type of childhood. It
was just the most amazing thing ever. Horses was were
a big thing for me growing up, and I contribute
(02:19):
a lot of my life lessons to them. I've actually
done a little thing on Instagram before talking about the
life lessons of the four legged So I've had the
four horses that I have now are like eleven, number
eleven to fourteen. So all of those fourteen horses in
my life have taught me endless amounts of things that
(02:40):
I don't think I could have ever got from anythink
house or anyone else. Can you share some of your
life lessons because I'm so interested. I actually want to
write a book on this. So I don't know if
I want to share too many of these.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, one is fine, one is fine.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Two set goals, but not be unadaptable, like to be
to live in the present moment and to go with
what feels right at the time.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Yeah, that's actually a pretty important thing. Like when you're riding.
I did a little bit of riding myself when I
was younger, and you just have to be present because
if you're not, you can get yourself into trouble, or
your horse into trouble, or people around you into trouble.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
So that's a really good one. I concur so.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Tell me a little bit about how you got from
Englewood and the Tartanakiades where you are now, and also
how your career has progressed as well, because I think
that's a really interesting part of your journey to the
Rural Health Collective, which is what you now do.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Tell us a little bit about that journey and how
it kind of all came about for you.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
So moving from Tartanakiads. Where I am now was because
of my partner. He is well basically a stock manager
now and he got a job here, so I just
moved with him naturally. I started out as a pt
about six years ago, and back then I was My
(04:07):
business name was Algae for Fitness, but last year I
rebranded to Rural Health Collective purely because I one hundred
percent realized what my true passion and health and fitness was,
and that was helping rural women like myself who often
need extra fuel because their lifestyles are so active, and
(04:29):
the strength training can just help improve a rural lifestyle
so much people really underestimate it. I spent three years
weight training and educating myself with how to eat better,
and the empowerment that I got from that was what
sparked wanting to help other women. I really battled through
(04:53):
my late teens and early twenties with body image and
confidence self love, and I was always one of those
people that I'd label was skinny fat like. I was
never overweight, but I wasn't really healthy, and I guess
I did have a couple of bouts where I struggled
with my mental health and always like using alcohol as
(05:14):
a mask or for who I truly was and to
gain confidence. And I still remember to this day like
the turning point with where I knew my life had
to make a change. I got back from an overseas
trip in twenty fourteen, and previous to this, like, I
was in some really low points and I got home
(05:34):
and I was like four cages heavier. And while it
doesn't seem like a lot, like, I looked in the
mirror and I just knew that I had to make
a change. I didn't want to be this person mentally
and physically and emotionally anymore. So I I joined a gym,
and like actually properly joined a gym and stuck with it,
and then got help from other coaches and from friends
(05:58):
and looked into what I was eating and started eating
better and just the life changing things that happened from
actually fueling my body and gaining strength. I would go
as far as it saved my life, to be honest
finding that, And that's when I knew that was my
passion and I had to help other women feel that too.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for sharing that.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
I think everyone will be able to relate to some
part of it, because I think, particularly as women, as
we grow up, we have specific ways that we see
ourselves and then we experiment with all these crazy things
and it's hard to find yourself when you're young.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
So that's really really.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Incredible, and I think for me that pulls through into
what you do in your programs as well. So looking
at your programs, it looks like there's a real holistic
element to it.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So do you want to share a little bit about.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
What you're doing with some of your one to one
coaching and also the twelve week program because it looks
quite different to some of the other offerings out there.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
So I would consider my tagline is fitness for mind,
body and soul. And this is just purely because I
do not believe that focusing on just one area is
gonna bring you happiness, happiness or transform your life. Because
if you, as say ten kg is overweight and you
feel unfit, you feel unhealthy, you go out and make
(07:23):
a physical transformation, but you don't work on your mind,
You're still that teen kg. You might have lost ten
kg's physically, but mentally you're still that person. That's why
I want everyone to be able to work on all
of those areas because it doesn't it isn't just about
the physical, It's about everything. So I've got three coaching offers. Basically,
(07:44):
my one to one coaching is obviously the most in depth,
the most transformative, and what I give like so much
energy and love into and networks on all areas obviously mind, body,
and soul. And then I've got Project Evolve, which runs
three times a year. It's a twelve week program which
(08:07):
I'm so proud of putting together. So there again is
about evolving the fitness of mind, body, and soul through
strength training, nourishing your body with good foods, and then
also working on your mindset. So there's thirteen interactive mindset
workbooks to work through with that. And then I've also
just got like a very basic entry level type program
(08:27):
that someone can jump on board with who are a
little bit untrusting or are scared to invest in themselves,
but they can choose this at a low cost investment,
in a low time investment, get a feel for who
I am and what I do, and yeah, just a
(08:48):
really good way a stepping stone to start on their journey.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I love an idea of investing in yourself.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Ah that is something that we overlook all the time,
isn't it, Like, Yeah, it's just a it's really important
to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
And you know, we go and.
Speaker 5 (09:02):
Invest in cars and clothes and all of those things,
but sometimes we just don't invest in our minds and
bodies and souls well enough.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
So I love that.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
I'd love to ask you a little bit about your business, Jouni,
in terms of how you set things up, how you
decided about these offerings, because I actually love that you've
got this different these different types of offerings depending.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
On what people need. That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
And also just how you have got your word out,
how you've built your community, those kind of things.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
If you could share a little bit about that journey
with us.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Because I started out as a pt just working in
a gym, that was obviously the starting point, and then
because of my partner's job in living quite isolated, I
kind of morphed into both doing face to face in
online and I knew that online was where I wanted
to eventually end up. Fully, because A it means I
(09:58):
can live wherever I who's I can live isolated. I
don't have to drive into a gym and be it
also means I can reach more people because I have
more time essentially, And it was actually in twenty twenty one,
I was still working in a gym, but I knew
I wanted to be full time online and I was
always just scared to make that step. But the COVID
(10:20):
mandates came along and made the choice for me because
I was unable to work in a gym anymore. Like
I look at those things, those things in life that
at the time seemed like the worst thing in the world,
that often blessings in disguise. Like at the time when
they were like, well you can't work in the gym anymore,
like I thought that was the end of my world.
(10:41):
You know, what was I going to do for work?
And you know, the gym is my life. But looking
back now, it was the push that I needed to
go on the journey that I was actually meant to
go on. So yeah, jumped full time online because of that,
and then rebranded to Oral Health Collective, my one to
(11:03):
one offering. Because I pride myself on giving so much
energy and time and love to those clients, it just
means that there's a limited capacity to take on those people.
That's why I knew that there was need for one
off offerings instead of like that one to one personal experience,
which is why Project evolved and Project.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Start was born, this idea of having more impact and
you know, being able to get out of the gym
and therefore create something that's I think it feels to
me very much like it's uniquely you as well. It's
very easy to be like other people when you are
in a gym all the time, right, So that's absolutely
(11:46):
incredible that you were able to take that step. And
I understand that you actually were part of our Activator
program as well, and I wondered if you'd share a
little bit about that experience. So, for those who don't know,
Activator is a program that Rural Women New Zealand run
to help women who are either starting a business or
maybe rebranding like LJ has done, or they just want
(12:09):
some advice.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Around marketing and direction. So can you share a little.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Bit about how that came about, so how you heard
about it and then what that was like for you.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Funny thing was actually that when we moved here, the
owner's wife is actually Bronwin Maine, who's a big part
of Rural Woman in z which is how I heard
about it because I actually hadn't even heard of rural
woman in z until then, So I'm very grateful that
this whole scenario came into play so I could be
(12:39):
a part of this. And yeah, I really loved it.
It was so helpful. It gave me the push to
get out of my comfort zone and actually connect in
person with people because I am very much an introverted
little hermit, and it was really supportive, even ongoing support,
like we've just finished up with three We had three
(13:02):
zooms recently, which was a follow up from last year
from with like guest speakers about business and stuff, and
it was really really awesome, So so appreciative of it,
and I think anyone, any woman in business with a
rural kind of aspect should definitely apply for it because
they'll get so much out of it.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Amazing.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
It's really cold to hear about the connection points and
also that ongoing support as well. It's something we've been
working really hard to develop. Some start to hear that
that's like, you know, hitting the mark.
Speaker 8 (13:36):
I'm really interested to hear a little bit about if
you have had times in your life where you've had
people support you, so people who have championed the cause
or been there for you specifically that's helped you turn a.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
Corner or be part of a really pivotal moment in life.
And we all kind of have these mentors or champions,
but they all take different forms.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So it's really interesting to hear about what that journey
might look look like for you.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
I have a really interesting one that just came to mind,
And for some people it's gonna sound really far fetched,
but I actually when I was struggling a little bit
with my mental health, and I think I was around twenty,
I actually went and saw a therapist. I can't even
remember what her name was. She was like a gift
(14:28):
from the universe because I went there for all these
sessions and she felt terrible for charging for me because
I was so young and went there for these sessions.
She helped me amazingly, and then she was meant to
send me a bill and never did, and then just
disappeared off the face of the earth. Like literally, I
(14:50):
couldn't find her in any phone book. I couldn't find
her on the internet, I couldn't find her email. I
just couldn't find her. It was like she was this
as crazy as it sounds, it's like it was just
this angel that came to help me and then absolutely disappeared. Yeah,
as crazy as it is.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Does sound like you from the Oh my goodness, and
what did they do? What did that experience do for you?
Because it sounds like it was pretty pivotal for you.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Yeah, it's interesting because I can't even really remember what
we talked about or specifically how it helped. It just
she just did. And I have to also credit mum
and dad here because Mom and Dad have always been
my number one supporters with everything in life. They're definitely
number one mentor and supporter in my life, always given
(15:41):
me everything and anything in their power that I've even needed,
and supported me through any decisions or career changes or
crazy ideas that I've had in life without like judging
or you know, questioning if it's going to work out.
They just they just support me, always there for me.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So love that that is. Oh, if I hear you
on that one.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
I think parents really do provide quite a unique support networks.
So that's that's amazing. I'm interested seeing as you've lifted
a couple of different places, particularly in.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
That rural setting.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
What do you like about living Really, what do you
love about living rurally? What are the big things for
you that make you want to stay in a remote
location on the West coast.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Buzz To be super honest, the biggest thing is the
good excuse it gives me to be a hermit. But no,
like in all seriousness, just always having not only a
place to ride my horses, but also always a place
to go for solitude. You know, if you're having a
moment or you need a moment, you can just you know,
(16:51):
literally go out anywhere on the panic. You can find
anywhere on the farm, find a place to sit by
yourself and be in nature and ground yourself. Grounding is
something that I'm big on, you know, spending time in
nature to bring yourself back and yeah, going out being
able to just listen to the birds or the wind
in the trees or whatever it may be, and be
(17:13):
by yourself with your own thoughts. You don't definitely couldn't
get that in town.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
So yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
I think I think that's probably one of my favorite
most favorite things as well, being able to get away
from the world.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
Yeah, the fresh air is a big thing. It's a
big thing when I was looking on your website. I
saw that there was a couple of new initiatives that
you're looking at doing.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
So one of them is something.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
That caught my eye, the Busy Rural Women's Club, which
it said was coming soon. And I'm not sure if
you've launched this or or what, but it would be
really cool to.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
Hear about that.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
Sounds like something that a lot of women would fit into.
So what was the what was the background on that,
and when is it can be around or available At.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
The stage, it's definitely happening, it's definitely coming. I really
aim to launch it as an app so that it's
really user friendly, and in saying that, I'm kind of
looking for investors to help me get it off the
ground running. But I think to start with I'll just
launch it without the app and see how it runs,
(18:24):
so it'll be a very low investment offer for busybra
or women. Obviously a subscription based service that'll give a
monthly training plan. Ideally, I'm going to do it so
it's you utilizing farm equipment, so I'll pre record a
lot of videos using like I don't know, feed secks
(18:45):
or hay bales or even pushing farm stuff around, you know,
anything that you can utilize on the farm, but all
still strength based because I'm very much that's how I work.
Strength based is what I love. And then with monthly
recipe and stuff like that. Yeah, that's saying that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Amazing, it sounds so good.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
And also that you know that's equipment that you're going
to have right there in front of you as well.
I'm also a big fan of the strength based approach,
So that's that's awesome. And there's another thing I saw
around the retreat that you're running I think at some
point later in the years, So can you tell us
a little bit about that as well.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
Yeah, so that's another thing in the planning stages, hopefully
looking at October this year. So named Your Royally Beautiful
maybe a health and fitness to retreat for ideally rural woman.
But obviously anyone can come hosted here at the batch
out on the out on the coast. I've got a
couple of really awesome people lined up to collaborate with
(19:47):
me on this. I'm very excited. Part of it will
be a photo shoot, So for anyone that hasn't done
a photo shoot like it's just so empowering. When you're
doing a photo shoot with someone who amps you up,
you're in your element. So for the likes of a
rural setting, you're just comfortable and just stepping in front
(20:07):
of a camera. And it's a feeling that I think
everyone needs to feel, even though a lot of people
don't think that they're, you know, a model or whatever.
They don't have to be a model to take heavy
photo taken. I just think it's very empowering. So I
want to be able to bring that to life.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
It is such a good idea.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
I have had a couple of shirts for various things
in the past.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
And I so agree with you.
Speaker 5 (20:34):
The empowering feeling of you know, owning your space and
being you you in say, clothes that mean a lot
to you, or in a space that means a lot
to you, or in a space that feels wild and free,
like the West Coast. That's amazing. What a great idea.
And then people can have those those photos to be
(20:57):
able to look back on and see that's that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
I'm interested as well in hearing.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Other than some of these things that we've talked about,
Like for you, what does success and say two three,
five years look like like what do you want to grow?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
What kind of community do you want.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
To evolve or create? And what kind of impact do
you want to have across rural regional New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Success, I find is an interesting topic and I was.
I did a ramble on this I've got to think
called insightful Rambles on their free community group and a
basically just journal, and the idea of success came up recently,
Like you know, society's version of success often is like money, career, health, family,
(21:49):
whatever it may be, but not everyone's version of success
means that, And I think everyone needs to own their
own version of success and not what society puts on
puts a label on it. Airs So while I have
a lot of goals that would obviously mean success to me,
(22:09):
I am trying to aim to just be successful in
every moment, like not actually wait till I've got this,
or until I've achieved this, until I'm successful. I want
to be successful right now. If that makes.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Sense, it totally does?
Speaker 5 (22:26):
It totally does, I think, And I think everyone everyone
needs to have their own definition of what it means
to them as well. I think it's very easy to
fall into what other people want or what society tells
you that you should be. So I love that you're
that you're championing that. One other thing that I noticed
when I was looking on your website and your Instagram
(22:47):
was around your food, the food style and a bit
of recipe support.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
So I'm actually just interested. Everybody has sort of like
a bit.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
Of an a that they like to eat, a way
that they like to recommend, particularly trainers and foodies and things.
So what kind of things like what tips would you
give people, what's out there for women and what keeps
it easy when you're looking at food and maintaining well
being and nourishing your body.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
I think there's so much on Google you can google,
you know, there's so many different diets. The one that's
going to work for you is the one that you
can stick to, basically, like you got to eat the
foods that you love. That's the biggest thing. Eating enough food,
Like it's not a tip that most people just do
not eat enough food, particularly protein. Like keeping it simple,
(23:38):
really eating good, nourishing balanced meals does not have to
be hard. While I often promote a lot of like
recipes that you know, have a lot of flavors, and
a lot of different things. You can literally make a
healthy meal in five minutes. Don't overthink it. Just you know,
(23:59):
peer here's some protein with a whole heap of veggies
in some good carb sources like potato or veg potato
or rice, and chuck it all together and you can
make that last. You know, you can make four or
five meals in one go and eat it. It does
not have to be hard.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
I think lots of people do complicate it away by day,
like there's so many things out there. Oh do this,
You've got to have a certain thing, And I'm speaking
of I'm interested in your take on nutrition and supplements
because I know that you do a little bit of
that yourself.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
So do you recommend I.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Think most of them, to be honest, are overrated and unnecessary.
Like if you're eating a healthy, balanced diet, you shouldn't
shouldn't need it other than some people are obviously lacking
in some types of vitamins and minerals because we literally
just don't get them from our food anymore. It's nearly
impossible to But the only one supplement that I do
(24:57):
recommend most people consume is protein powter, just one server
of there to day purely because for the most part,
most people don't consume enough and to eat enough like
whole food sources to get your protein in for the day,
it would be quite a lot of food. So just
adding one server protein potter is quite helpful. And it
also makes smoothies and desserts and stuff like that tastes
(25:20):
quite nice.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
So yeah, there's an there's an aedded benefit. Cool. Oh
that's awesome. That's really really good to understand.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
Is there anything else that you'd like to share with us,
because I feel as though we've covered a lot from
obviously your beginnings, starting your business, some of the reasons
why you have such a holistic approach to how fitness
and wellness. Is there anything else that you'd like to
share with us about you or your business or how
(25:48):
we can interact with you as well, would be good.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
I'm not much a one to talk about myself, so
I can't believe I was spoken about myself for this long,
to be honest, But yeah, in terms of how to
interact with me Instagram and stuff. The best way our
Jay Rural Health Collective is my Instagram handle and then
all my links are on there for any coaching options
or finding more about me from my website.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Awesome.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
And people all across New Zealand can interact with you
right because you're online. So if there's someone down in
the South Island that wants a touch base, they'll be
able to do that.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Yep, one hundred percent in overseas if they want to.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Awesome, Awesome. I love this whole online thing. It's so great.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
I can be talking to you from a car and
Hamilton and we've still got the internet to do that.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
So that's great.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
Al Jay, thank you so much for spending some time
with us today, taking some time out of your day
and sharing a bit about your journey, the highs and
the lows and the things that are really important to you.
And I really appreciate you being so honest with us
about you know, what has inspired your journey and also
(26:55):
how you do things differently too. So thank you so
much for being a shining example to rural women and
supporting them and being the best versions of themselves.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Right.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
So, if you have enjoyed this chat and the others
that we've held with fantastic rural women, then please support
us by joining the fold.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Just see to our website Rural womaninz dot in zed
or check out the show notes to sign up and
be part of shaping future generations for women in rural
New Zealand.
Welcome to the Black Keels and Tractor Wheels podcast, where
we are sharing stories from a range of women from
around New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
For nearly a century, Rural Women New Zealand has been
dedicated to strengthening and supporting women and children to become
empowered members of their communities.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We hope that by hearing these stories from inspiring women
all around the country, you'll feel inspired yourself.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We're your hosts, Emma Higgins and Claire Williamson and would
love for you to join and subscribe to our podcast
so you don't miss our rural stories.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Now, is it l J.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Yeah, that's very great.
Speaker 5 (00:42):
I was a little worried that I might get that wrong,
but hey, thank you so much for joining me today
from the beautiful Tiaco in Northern Way, Catur. I wanted
to start off a wee bit by asking you a
little bit about your childhood and some of your experiences
growing up where you grew up, potentially a few funny
(01:04):
wee stories if those come up for you, and whether
or not you've always lived rurally. So obviously you now do,
but is that always been the case.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Yeah, So I spent the first like nineteen years of
my life on a little lifestyle block out the back
of Englewood in the Tatanuki region. So mom and dad
had like thirty six acres there, so very small, but
we had access to thousands of acres to ride horses over.
(01:37):
So very much used to the rural life all my life. Yeah,
grew up with horses, went to a small country school,
always dabbled in calf and lambdays, had my calves and
my lands every year for school would always get placed
because I spent hours and hours with those calves and lands,
(01:59):
Like I think Mum and Dad struggled to get me inside.
Most of my childhood very blessed childhood, like I could
not imagine having lived any other type of childhood. It
was just the most amazing thing ever. Horses was were
a big thing for me growing up, and I contribute
(02:19):
a lot of my life lessons to them. I've actually
done a little thing on Instagram before talking about the
life lessons of the four legged So I've had the
four horses that I have now are like eleven, number
eleven to fourteen. So all of those fourteen horses in
my life have taught me endless amounts of things that
(02:40):
I don't think I could have ever got from anythink
house or anyone else. Can you share some of your
life lessons because I'm so interested. I actually want to
write a book on this. So I don't know if
I want to share too many of these.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, one is fine, one is fine.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Two set goals, but not be unadaptable, like to be
to live in the present moment and to go with
what feels right at the time.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Yeah, that's actually a pretty important thing. Like when you're riding.
I did a little bit of riding myself when I
was younger, and you just have to be present because
if you're not, you can get yourself into trouble, or
your horse into trouble, or people around you into trouble.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
So that's a really good one. I concur so.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Tell me a little bit about how you got from
Englewood and the Tartanakiades where you are now, and also
how your career has progressed as well, because I think
that's a really interesting part of your journey to the
Rural Health Collective, which is what you now do.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Tell us a little bit about that journey and how
it kind of all came about for you.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
So moving from Tartanakiads. Where I am now was because
of my partner. He is well basically a stock manager
now and he got a job here, so I just
moved with him naturally. I started out as a pt
about six years ago, and back then I was My
(04:07):
business name was Algae for Fitness, but last year I
rebranded to Rural Health Collective purely because I one hundred
percent realized what my true passion and health and fitness was,
and that was helping rural women like myself who often
need extra fuel because their lifestyles are so active, and
(04:29):
the strength training can just help improve a rural lifestyle
so much people really underestimate it. I spent three years
weight training and educating myself with how to eat better,
and the empowerment that I got from that was what
sparked wanting to help other women. I really battled through
(04:53):
my late teens and early twenties with body image and
confidence self love, and I was always one of those
people that I'd label was skinny fat like. I was
never overweight, but I wasn't really healthy, and I guess
I did have a couple of bouts where I struggled
with my mental health and always like using alcohol as
(05:14):
a mask or for who I truly was and to
gain confidence. And I still remember to this day like
the turning point with where I knew my life had
to make a change. I got back from an overseas
trip in twenty fourteen, and previous to this, like, I
was in some really low points and I got home
(05:34):
and I was like four cages heavier. And while it
doesn't seem like a lot, like, I looked in the
mirror and I just knew that I had to make
a change. I didn't want to be this person mentally
and physically and emotionally anymore. So I I joined a gym,
and like actually properly joined a gym and stuck with it,
and then got help from other coaches and from friends
(05:58):
and looked into what I was eating and started eating
better and just the life changing things that happened from
actually fueling my body and gaining strength. I would go
as far as it saved my life, to be honest
finding that, And that's when I knew that was my
passion and I had to help other women feel that too.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for sharing that.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
I think everyone will be able to relate to some
part of it, because I think, particularly as women, as
we grow up, we have specific ways that we see
ourselves and then we experiment with all these crazy things
and it's hard to find yourself when you're young.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
So that's really really.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Incredible, and I think for me that pulls through into
what you do in your programs as well. So looking
at your programs, it looks like there's a real holistic
element to it.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So do you want to share a little bit about.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
What you're doing with some of your one to one
coaching and also the twelve week program because it looks
quite different to some of the other offerings out there.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
So I would consider my tagline is fitness for mind,
body and soul. And this is just purely because I
do not believe that focusing on just one area is
gonna bring you happiness, happiness or transform your life. Because
if you, as say ten kg is overweight and you
feel unfit, you feel unhealthy, you go out and make
(07:23):
a physical transformation, but you don't work on your mind,
You're still that teen kg. You might have lost ten
kg's physically, but mentally you're still that person. That's why
I want everyone to be able to work on all
of those areas because it doesn't it isn't just about
the physical, It's about everything. So I've got three coaching offers. Basically,
(07:44):
my one to one coaching is obviously the most in depth,
the most transformative, and what I give like so much
energy and love into and networks on all areas obviously mind, body,
and soul. And then I've got Project Evolve, which runs
three times a year. It's a twelve week program which
(08:07):
I'm so proud of putting together. So there again is
about evolving the fitness of mind, body, and soul through
strength training, nourishing your body with good foods, and then
also working on your mindset. So there's thirteen interactive mindset
workbooks to work through with that. And then I've also
just got like a very basic entry level type program
(08:27):
that someone can jump on board with who are a
little bit untrusting or are scared to invest in themselves,
but they can choose this at a low cost investment,
in a low time investment, get a feel for who
I am and what I do, and yeah, just a
(08:48):
really good way a stepping stone to start on their journey.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I love an idea of investing in yourself.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Ah that is something that we overlook all the time,
isn't it, Like, Yeah, it's just a it's really important
to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
And you know, we go and.
Speaker 5 (09:02):
Invest in cars and clothes and all of those things,
but sometimes we just don't invest in our minds and
bodies and souls well enough.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
So I love that.
Speaker 7 (09:12):
I'd love to ask you a little bit about your business, Jouni,
in terms of how you set things up, how you
decided about these offerings, because I actually love that you've
got this different these different types of offerings depending.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
On what people need. That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
And also just how you have got your word out,
how you've built your community, those kind of things.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
If you could share a little bit about that journey
with us.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Because I started out as a pt just working in
a gym, that was obviously the starting point, and then
because of my partner's job in living quite isolated, I
kind of morphed into both doing face to face in
online and I knew that online was where I wanted
to eventually end up. Fully, because A it means I
(09:58):
can live wherever I who's I can live isolated. I
don't have to drive into a gym and be it
also means I can reach more people because I have
more time essentially, And it was actually in twenty twenty one,
I was still working in a gym, but I knew
I wanted to be full time online and I was
always just scared to make that step. But the COVID
(10:20):
mandates came along and made the choice for me because
I was unable to work in a gym anymore. Like
I look at those things, those things in life that
at the time seemed like the worst thing in the world,
that often blessings in disguise. Like at the time when
they were like, well you can't work in the gym anymore,
like I thought that was the end of my world.
(10:41):
You know, what was I going to do for work?
And you know, the gym is my life. But looking
back now, it was the push that I needed to
go on the journey that I was actually meant to
go on. So yeah, jumped full time online because of that,
and then rebranded to Oral Health Collective, my one to
(11:03):
one offering. Because I pride myself on giving so much
energy and time and love to those clients, it just
means that there's a limited capacity to take on those people.
That's why I knew that there was need for one
off offerings instead of like that one to one personal experience,
which is why Project evolved and Project.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Start was born, this idea of having more impact and
you know, being able to get out of the gym
and therefore create something that's I think it feels to
me very much like it's uniquely you as well. It's
very easy to be like other people when you are
in a gym all the time, right, So that's absolutely
(11:46):
incredible that you were able to take that step. And
I understand that you actually were part of our Activator
program as well, and I wondered if you'd share a
little bit about that experience. So, for those who don't know,
Activator is a program that Rural Women New Zealand run
to help women who are either starting a business or
maybe rebranding like LJ has done, or they just want
(12:09):
some advice.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Around marketing and direction. So can you share a little.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Bit about how that came about, so how you heard
about it and then what that was like for you.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Funny thing was actually that when we moved here, the
owner's wife is actually Bronwin Maine, who's a big part
of Rural Woman in z which is how I heard
about it because I actually hadn't even heard of rural
woman in z until then, So I'm very grateful that
this whole scenario came into play so I could be
(12:39):
a part of this. And yeah, I really loved it.
It was so helpful. It gave me the push to
get out of my comfort zone and actually connect in
person with people because I am very much an introverted
little hermit, and it was really supportive, even ongoing support,
like we've just finished up with three We had three
(13:02):
zooms recently, which was a follow up from last year
from with like guest speakers about business and stuff, and
it was really really awesome, So so appreciative of it,
and I think anyone, any woman in business with a
rural kind of aspect should definitely apply for it because
they'll get so much out of it.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Amazing.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
It's really cold to hear about the connection points and
also that ongoing support as well. It's something we've been
working really hard to develop. Some start to hear that
that's like, you know, hitting the mark.
Speaker 8 (13:36):
I'm really interested to hear a little bit about if
you have had times in your life where you've had
people support you, so people who have championed the cause
or been there for you specifically that's helped you turn a.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
Corner or be part of a really pivotal moment in life.
And we all kind of have these mentors or champions,
but they all take different forms.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So it's really interesting to hear about what that journey
might look look like for you.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
I have a really interesting one that just came to mind,
And for some people it's gonna sound really far fetched,
but I actually when I was struggling a little bit
with my mental health, and I think I was around twenty,
I actually went and saw a therapist. I can't even
remember what her name was. She was like a gift
(14:28):
from the universe because I went there for all these
sessions and she felt terrible for charging for me because
I was so young and went there for these sessions.
She helped me amazingly, and then she was meant to
send me a bill and never did, and then just
disappeared off the face of the earth. Like literally, I
(14:50):
couldn't find her in any phone book. I couldn't find
her on the internet, I couldn't find her email. I
just couldn't find her. It was like she was this
as crazy as it sounds, it's like it was just
this angel that came to help me and then absolutely disappeared. Yeah,
as crazy as it is.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Does sound like you from the Oh my goodness, and
what did they do? What did that experience do for you?
Because it sounds like it was pretty pivotal for you.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Yeah, it's interesting because I can't even really remember what
we talked about or specifically how it helped. It just
she just did. And I have to also credit mum
and dad here because Mom and Dad have always been
my number one supporters with everything in life. They're definitely
number one mentor and supporter in my life, always given
(15:41):
me everything and anything in their power that I've even needed,
and supported me through any decisions or career changes or
crazy ideas that I've had in life without like judging
or you know, questioning if it's going to work out.
They just they just support me, always there for me.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So love that that is. Oh, if I hear you
on that one.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
I think parents really do provide quite a unique support networks.
So that's that's amazing. I'm interested seeing as you've lifted
a couple of different places, particularly in.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
That rural setting.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
What do you like about living Really, what do you
love about living rurally? What are the big things for
you that make you want to stay in a remote
location on the West coast.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Buzz To be super honest, the biggest thing is the
good excuse it gives me to be a hermit. But no,
like in all seriousness, just always having not only a
place to ride my horses, but also always a place
to go for solitude. You know, if you're having a
moment or you need a moment, you can just you know,
(16:51):
literally go out anywhere on the panic. You can find
anywhere on the farm, find a place to sit by
yourself and be in nature and ground yourself. Grounding is
something that I'm big on, you know, spending time in
nature to bring yourself back and yeah, going out being
able to just listen to the birds or the wind
in the trees or whatever it may be, and be
(17:13):
by yourself with your own thoughts. You don't definitely couldn't
get that in town.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
So yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
I think I think that's probably one of my favorite
most favorite things as well, being able to get away
from the world.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
Yeah, the fresh air is a big thing. It's a
big thing when I was looking on your website. I
saw that there was a couple of new initiatives that
you're looking at doing.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
So one of them is something.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
That caught my eye, the Busy Rural Women's Club, which
it said was coming soon. And I'm not sure if
you've launched this or or what, but it would be
really cool to.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
Hear about that.
Speaker 5 (17:52):
Sounds like something that a lot of women would fit into.
So what was the what was the background on that,
and when is it can be around or available At.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
The stage, it's definitely happening, it's definitely coming. I really
aim to launch it as an app so that it's
really user friendly, and in saying that, I'm kind of
looking for investors to help me get it off the
ground running. But I think to start with I'll just
launch it without the app and see how it runs,
(18:24):
so it'll be a very low investment offer for busybra
or women. Obviously a subscription based service that'll give a
monthly training plan. Ideally, I'm going to do it so
it's you utilizing farm equipment, so I'll pre record a
lot of videos using like I don't know, feed secks
(18:45):
or hay bales or even pushing farm stuff around, you know,
anything that you can utilize on the farm, but all
still strength based because I'm very much that's how I work.
Strength based is what I love. And then with monthly
recipe and stuff like that. Yeah, that's saying that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Amazing, it sounds so good.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
And also that you know that's equipment that you're going
to have right there in front of you as well.
I'm also a big fan of the strength based approach,
So that's that's awesome. And there's another thing I saw
around the retreat that you're running I think at some
point later in the years, So can you tell us
a little bit about that as well.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
Yeah, so that's another thing in the planning stages, hopefully
looking at October this year. So named Your Royally Beautiful
maybe a health and fitness to retreat for ideally rural woman.
But obviously anyone can come hosted here at the batch
out on the out on the coast. I've got a
couple of really awesome people lined up to collaborate with
(19:47):
me on this. I'm very excited. Part of it will
be a photo shoot, So for anyone that hasn't done
a photo shoot like it's just so empowering. When you're
doing a photo shoot with someone who amps you up,
you're in your element. So for the likes of a
rural setting, you're just comfortable and just stepping in front
(20:07):
of a camera. And it's a feeling that I think
everyone needs to feel, even though a lot of people
don't think that they're, you know, a model or whatever.
They don't have to be a model to take heavy
photo taken. I just think it's very empowering. So I
want to be able to bring that to life.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
It is such a good idea.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
I have had a couple of shirts for various things
in the past.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
And I so agree with you.
Speaker 5 (20:34):
The empowering feeling of you know, owning your space and
being you you in say, clothes that mean a lot
to you, or in a space that means a lot
to you, or in a space that feels wild and free,
like the West Coast. That's amazing. What a great idea.
And then people can have those those photos to be
(20:57):
able to look back on and see that's that's really cool.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
I'm interested as well in hearing.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Other than some of these things that we've talked about,
Like for you, what does success and say two three,
five years look like like what do you want to grow?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
What kind of community do you want.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
To evolve or create? And what kind of impact do
you want to have across rural regional New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Success, I find is an interesting topic and I was.
I did a ramble on this I've got to think
called insightful Rambles on their free community group and a
basically just journal, and the idea of success came up recently,
Like you know, society's version of success often is like money, career, health, family,
(21:49):
whatever it may be, but not everyone's version of success
means that, And I think everyone needs to own their
own version of success and not what society puts on
puts a label on it. Airs So while I have
a lot of goals that would obviously mean success to me,
(22:09):
I am trying to aim to just be successful in
every moment, like not actually wait till I've got this,
or until I've achieved this, until I'm successful. I want
to be successful right now. If that makes.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Sense, it totally does?
Speaker 5 (22:26):
It totally does, I think, And I think everyone everyone
needs to have their own definition of what it means
to them as well. I think it's very easy to
fall into what other people want or what society tells
you that you should be. So I love that you're
that you're championing that. One other thing that I noticed
when I was looking on your website and your Instagram
(22:47):
was around your food, the food style and a bit
of recipe support.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
So I'm actually just interested. Everybody has sort of like
a bit.
Speaker 5 (22:58):
Of an a that they like to eat, a way
that they like to recommend, particularly trainers and foodies and things.
So what kind of things like what tips would you
give people, what's out there for women and what keeps
it easy when you're looking at food and maintaining well
being and nourishing your body.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
I think there's so much on Google you can google,
you know, there's so many different diets. The one that's
going to work for you is the one that you
can stick to, basically, like you got to eat the
foods that you love. That's the biggest thing. Eating enough food,
Like it's not a tip that most people just do
not eat enough food, particularly protein. Like keeping it simple,
(23:38):
really eating good, nourishing balanced meals does not have to
be hard. While I often promote a lot of like
recipes that you know, have a lot of flavors, and
a lot of different things. You can literally make a
healthy meal in five minutes. Don't overthink it. Just you know,
(23:59):
peer here's some protein with a whole heap of veggies
in some good carb sources like potato or veg potato
or rice, and chuck it all together and you can
make that last. You know, you can make four or
five meals in one go and eat it. It does
not have to be hard.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
I think lots of people do complicate it away by day,
like there's so many things out there. Oh do this,
You've got to have a certain thing, And I'm speaking
of I'm interested in your take on nutrition and supplements
because I know that you do a little bit of
that yourself.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
So do you recommend I.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Think most of them, to be honest, are overrated and unnecessary.
Like if you're eating a healthy, balanced diet, you shouldn't
shouldn't need it other than some people are obviously lacking
in some types of vitamins and minerals because we literally
just don't get them from our food anymore. It's nearly
impossible to But the only one supplement that I do
(24:57):
recommend most people consume is protein powter, just one server
of there to day purely because for the most part,
most people don't consume enough and to eat enough like
whole food sources to get your protein in for the day,
it would be quite a lot of food. So just
adding one server protein potter is quite helpful. And it
also makes smoothies and desserts and stuff like that tastes
(25:20):
quite nice.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
So yeah, there's an there's an aedded benefit. Cool. Oh
that's awesome. That's really really good to understand.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
Is there anything else that you'd like to share with us,
because I feel as though we've covered a lot from
obviously your beginnings, starting your business, some of the reasons
why you have such a holistic approach to how fitness
and wellness. Is there anything else that you'd like to
share with us about you or your business or how
(25:48):
we can interact with you as well, would be good.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
I'm not much a one to talk about myself, so
I can't believe I was spoken about myself for this long,
to be honest, But yeah, in terms of how to
interact with me Instagram and stuff. The best way our
Jay Rural Health Collective is my Instagram handle and then
all my links are on there for any coaching options
or finding more about me from my website.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Awesome.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
And people all across New Zealand can interact with you
right because you're online. So if there's someone down in
the South Island that wants a touch base, they'll be
able to do that.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Yep, one hundred percent in overseas if they want to.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Awesome, Awesome. I love this whole online thing. It's so great.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
I can be talking to you from a car and
Hamilton and we've still got the internet to do that.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
So that's great.
Speaker 5 (26:35):
Al Jay, thank you so much for spending some time
with us today, taking some time out of your day
and sharing a bit about your journey, the highs and
the lows and the things that are really important to you.
And I really appreciate you being so honest with us
about you know, what has inspired your journey and also
(26:55):
how you do things differently too. So thank you so
much for being a shining example to rural women and
supporting them and being the best versions of themselves.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Right.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
So, if you have enjoyed this chat and the others
that we've held with fantastic rural women, then please support
us by joining the fold.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
Just see to our website Rural womaninz dot in zed
or check out the show notes to sign up and
be part of shaping future generations for women in rural
New Zealand.
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