Soaring Through Pain with Jamie Holmes

Graydon: Welcome back to People We Love. Today we have Jamie Holmes, who definitely qualifies as a tried and true bad ass woman! We talk to bad ass women who are making change in this world and our community. What Jamie does is a little different, in a good way!  We connected a few years ago when Jamie was hosting a retreat, and a lot has changed since then. I believe you like to be introduced as an aerialist, is that correct?

Jamie: Yes!

Graydon: Jamie is also the owner of The Circus Fix, in case you want to get your circus on!

Jamie: I’m the owner of a local Toronto circus studio. I reached out to you because I host retreats, and we are still expanding. We do aerial silks everyday, and then yoga at night. And I wanted to give participants the coolest swag ever that was in alignment with clean products, and suited the retreat. So thank you - everyone is in love with it.

G: We want to hear about you!

J: Well I do circus! I was a gymnast growing up. I became a professional dancer, met a circus artist in Las Vegas. I started messing around with the circus apparatus backstage because I thought it was cool, since it was a combo of dance and gymnastics. Once I moved back to Toronto, I found a teacher and transitioned into aerial arts. The rest is history! I started preforming professionally quite quickly, and started implementing aerial silks into teaching classes. Now I own a studio, so the momentum sort of just kept on going!

G: I’ll have to come and take a class sometime. The thing I want to talk about today is, I know this is a sore spot for you…

J: [Laughs] Figuratively and literally!

G: …I think it’s great that you’re an entrepreneur, but I’m interested in people’s own personal journey and struggle. So Jamie came into our office, and I noticed that she had difficulty walking.

J: I have a new accessory, a cute little cane.

G: You are such a vibrant, positive person, but you’re in a lot of pain, and so that opens the question of, how do we navigate challenges that come up in life?

J: I mean thats a loaded question. My hip pain isn’t from an injury, it’s chronic pain that I believe stems from years and years ago. The big old saying is ‘the show must go on’. i think athletes and performers go through a lot of pain that you just push through, because that’s what you do. I’m dealing with some pretty severe issues right now, and I’m not a happy camper I am in pain all the time. Without being dramatic, it’s a bit of an identity crisis right now. I am, and always have been a super mover, an athlete, I love what I do. And it’s hard going to my studio, feeling like that kid looking from the outside in and pouting. I just can’t wait to get back to stuff!

G: You’re talking about just pushing through things, and I realize that is what a lot of athletes need to do. My personal approach is more holistic, and I’m glad you got to meditating.

J: I have to! If I didn’t then I just feel sorry for myself, and there’s no point to that. My mom is the most positive person in the world, and she says things like, ‘keep going, keep smiling, and find positive things in your day’. For instance, I am making time to see friends, I’m writing a book, and keeping busy. I’m coping with being the more boring, less mobile version of myself. It’s a whole identity shift right now.

G: It’s like a message from the universe.

J: Yeah. When is a good time to be in a lot of pain? Never. But, what it has allowed me to do is reflect. My studio is doing well, I have amazing teachers that are there. It’s running and people are happy! So that makes me feel grateful and thankful.

G: I think that’s another thing, practicing gratitude.

J: It’s a huge thing!

G: You have two legs that do work, but your hips just need a little tweak.

J: Just a lil love. I also believe that it will all happen as it’s supposed to happen. I know that I have a lot of people rooting for me, and it will all work out. I also feel that little crisis’ bring about so much learning, I am learning so much right now. I wish there was more time in the day to learn more!

G: I’m going to take it back to my lens, and my interest in skincare comes from having skin issues myself. Sometimes when our body, and in my lens my skin, goes haywire, it really shows you what you take for granted. I do skin visualizations of my skin clearing, and show gratitude for my skin doing it’s best to tell me something, but it’s still challenging. Would you have any advice for people for when they are faced with adversity - especially when it’s something that you take for granted and is intrinsically part of you, that it almost defines you? What can you do?

J: I think visualization and meditation is important regardless of hard times. I believe that’s a general thing all people should do. In terms of body and adversity, I think it’s the impatience in me, but if something doesn’t feel good and heal up in a day or two, I’m going to go see someone about it. I don’t want it to get worse, so let’s get an opinion.

G: So being proactive?

J: Yes, I’m big on that. Specifically in movement, I believe that people should really listen to their bodies. I wasn’t negligent with my pain, because there was a lot of other contributing factors, but I also did push through a lot of pain for many years. So maybe I wouldn’t be as bad if I did imaging earlier, who knows. But I believe that when our bodies are so important to us, to spend the money and time to see someone to help. And be diligent about it. Even just acute maintenance before there is a problem.

G: I want to focus on your thought of actually feeling your body. That really resonates with me, because I don’t think people take the time, or are able, to feel their body. When you connect to how you feel, you can empower yourself to make better choices. I see this with my aging parents, who have never taken the time to check in on how they feel. I have a lot of digestive issues exasperated by stress, so I’m being extra careful about what I’m eating. Not from a restrictive diet point of view, but to tap into what I feel like and what my body needs. That has also helped me get my skin back. You said a lot of great things, but I think that one is the most important, and it really resonates with me, so thank you for bringing that up. Thank you for joining us Jamie, where can people find you?

J: TheCircusFix.ca is the studio website, and JamieHolmes.ca is my personal website. I’m around!