WHEN JOSLYN Thompson Rule was told at the age of seven that she would never be able to Irish dance again after a freak accident involving a wall collapsing on to her foot which led to her requiring nine operations including the amputation of her left big toe, her dreams appeared to be shattered.

But her steely determination and refusal to give up on her dreams defied the odds stacked against her so early in life and led to her becoming not only a personal trainer and sports therapist with eighteen years’ experience but also a Nike Global Master Trainer.

In an exclusive Q&A Feature for Voice Online, Joslyn Thompson Rule shares some tips on how to move it and reset your body.

Voice Online: Introduce yourself to our readers…

Joslyn Thompson Rule: I’m Joslyn; I’m 42 years old and married with two sons. I was born in Dublin in Ireland to an Irish mother and a Jamaican father, we moved to England when I was seven and apart from when I went back to Dublin to study at Uni, I’ve lived here ever since.

VO: You had a childhood incident which led to you having a broken foot which required nine operations. Please share that experience with us.

JTR: My dad, a carpenter by trade, had moved to England ahead of us to find more work. When he returned to Dublin to bring us over with him, the night before we were due to move, he backed the lorry, which had all of our stuff, into the driveway so as to drive out easier the next morning. However, whilst reversing, part of the lorry got stuck on the gate which was attached to the wall where I was standing. When it started to wobble, I jumped off but to my misfortune the wall collapsed and landed on my left foot and I needed to have nine operations which included the amputation of my big toe. Although I was told by the surgeon that I would never Irish dance again my seven year old self refused to accept that diagnosis until I had at least tried and to my amazement and everyone else’s not only did I learn to walk again but I also continued to Irish dance until I went to Uni.

VO:  The foreword to your latest published book – How to move it: Reset Your Body – was written by double Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox MBE who, like you, has an inspirational story of her own. How much of an inspiration is her story to you?

JTR: Her story is perhaps more impacting than mine having experienced two strokes, been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis but then becoming a double Paralympic champion. She refused to be defined by her illness and limitations and instead focused on what she could do and the rest as they say is history. Her story is a reminder to all those who have been told that they can’t do something in life that in actual fact they can if they believe in themselves and refuse to give up on their dreams.

VO: In the book you point out the importance of training the mind before embarking on any movement. Why is that so important?

JTR: The battle always begins in the mind and so a positive mindset would then lead to positive outcomes related to movement. Positive self-talk is important because it helps to eliminate negative thoughts from the mind which thereby make it easier for movement to take place. Another way you can look at it is to picture yourself as being in the driver’s seat where you have control of your thoughts – positive thoughts join you in the front passenger seat while negative thoughts are quickly banished to the back seat so you can keep it moving.

VO: As a Nike Global Master Trainer what does a typical work day look like for you?

JTR: There are no typical work days really (smiles), no two days are the same. It could be project work involving a team, an individual athlete or the programme I run for female coaches because the fitness industry tends to be very male dominated. Then there are phone calls or message exchanges with clients and those I have the privilege to mentor as well as recordings for my podcast.

VO: What impact has Covid-19 had on your work?

JTR: My first priority has always been the health and well-being of my two sons as well as my family in general – probably more so after having lost my father to Covid last year which proved to be a tough time for us all. But on the plus side I benefited by having some quiet time for reflection as well as spending quality time with family which has then allowed me to be better prepared heading into 2021 in meeting the various requirements expected of me within the fitness industry.  

VO: How do you motivate those who want to exercise but feel that they don’t have the experience or the time?

JTR: For those who are homeschooling or caring for others – having the time to exercise can understandably be difficult. However, I would encourage all those that can to do some type of movement throughout the day to remove stagnation and keep the blood flowing around the body. At Nike we say that ‘if you have a body, you’re an athlete.’ Something as simple as a daily 5-10 minute walk around the block really does make a difference both physically and mentally and should therefore never be underestimated.

VO: What does it mean to you to have your book published by #Merky Books with all that they represent?

JTR: A huge honour. This is the first book I have written and it is everything I wanted it to be because it reaches those who are often underrepresented in society. So the impact of the How To series is far reaching and it’s a real privilege for me to pass on some fitness tips to readers which I hope will get them on the move and make them feel happy and healthy. 

VO: What are your final fitness tips for our readers?

JTR: If you cannot increase the hours that you sleep then try and improve the quality of your sleep – no phones or gadgets before bed. Instead, do some kind of wind-down activity such as reading or journaling. Get into the routine of having a regular movement practice. It could be a walking, running or stretching activity or even some resistance training but just take some time during your day to do it and you’ll have no regrets. You should also keep track of what you do by keeping a written record of your daily movement activities as this will give you extra motivation to keep moving. Finally, to banish any negative thoughts through positive self-talk which will bring you one step closer to fulfilling your fitness and lifestyle goals.

How to Move It: Reset Your Body by Joslyn Thompson Rule and published by #Merky Books is available in all bookshops now.

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