A truly inspiring woman, Jo Moseley shares her journey with me about how finding a new type of movement played a pivotal role in changing her life direction and helped her overcome sadness. We discuss the catalysts that led her to embrace stand-up paddle boarding, including perimenopause and personal loss.
Jo talks about the paddleboarding challenges she set herself, including a coast-to-coast journey and fundraising efforts. She emphasises the transformative power of movement on mental health and finding joy in the small things, as well as the support she received from friends and family. In our conversation, Jo also shares her passion for beach cleans and the positive impact they have on the environment and personal well-being. She emphasizes the sense of agency and purpose that comes from making a difference, meeting others, and being part of a community.
Jo is a truly relatable person who set challenges to move herself forward and in so doing, made a hugely positive change in her life.
Chapters
04:08 Paddleboarding from Liverpool to Leeds
05:22 Navigating perimenopause
08:08 Paddleboarding challenges and fundraising
10:08 The impact of movement on mental health
20:31 Overcoming challenges and staying consistent
23:18 Rediscovering oneself through movement
26:28 Writing books about movement adventures
31:58 Reclaiming yourself after motherhood
36:39 The calmness and confidence gained from movement
37:08 The benefits of beach cleans and community
38:29 Creating a sense of agency and purpose
39:44 Expressing gratitude and making a difference
About this week’s guest:
Jo Moseley is a 59 year old single Mum of two grown up sons from in Yorkshire. After a difficult perimenopause that left her crying in supermarket aisles and the grief of losing her Mum, Jo rowed a million metres and marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support in her memory in 2014. In 2016 she started paddleboarding having injured her knee earlier that year. She knew immediately it was something very special and for the first time in months she “felt like a warrior not a worrier.”
Three years later Jo became the first woman to paddleboard 162 miles coast to coast fundraising and picking up litter.
A film about that challenge called Brave Enough – A Journey Home to Joy has been screened to a great reception online and at prestigious adventure festivals, which is available to rent or buy.
Her first book SUP Great Britain (as above) was published by Vertebrate Publishing in June 2022 and was the first GB guide dedicated to paddleboarding. It soon became a bestseller. As a result she was invited to write a book about paddleboarding in the Lake District which will be published in spring 2024.
Jo is currently setting herself a #FeelGoodJoy challenge to do a Headstand a Day until she’s 60 – which will be December 2024!
Connect here:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/@jomoseley
Website: www.jomoseley.com
Email: healthyhappyfifty@yahoo.com
Book: ‘Stand-up Paddleboarding in Great Britain: Beautiful places to SUP in England, Scotland & Wales’ – on Amazon or on Adventure Books
