Meet GoFitJo, a ‘Modern Day Millennial Mutha Hustler’
We’ve been inspired by GoFitJo aka Joanne Encarnacion and her journey into fitness — she’s undergone an inspiring transformation and writes with a raw authenticity on health and wellness. Needless to say, we’re excited to announce that Joanne will be running the Twin Peaks Mile this October 14 at Virgin Sport SF!
Read more below as we catch up with Joanna and all that she’s up to.
Who are you and where are you from?
Hello! My name is Joanne Encarnacion but most people call me Jo. I’m a modern day millennial mutha hustler. I don’t really know what better way to describe myself in on swift sentence so I think that will do. I’m a mother to two wonderful young ladies who are 7 and 13 years old and married to an incredible husband whom I own a wedding and lifestyle photography business with.
Along with that I run a health, fitness, and lifestyle website called GOFITJO. I’ve recently been able to focus on my blog full time, but prior to that I was working at a tech startup called VSCO as the Director of Community/Curation for the past 5 years. Before my corporate role I was a hairstylist for 10 years. I just finished up holistic health coach training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and I’m excited to begin my career as a health and nutrition coach. Most recently, I began my certification in Yoga Teacher Training.
Awesome! And are you a runner?
Admittedly, no. Most of fitness journey has been shaped around weightlifting and functional movements. I don’t consider myself a runner, but that’s not to say I can’t run a mean 5K!
We bet you’ll crush it at the Twin Peaks Mile. What’s your morning routine like?
My alarm goes off around 5:30am-6:00am and I start off my day with a protein shake, oatmeal, and a banana. Then I’m off to the gym to get my sweat on!
What’s been the most challenging part of your fitness journey?
The most challenging part has been trying to find my new form of movement modality after recovering from a shoulder injury. It’s been mentally challenging to remind myself form over ego and to not compare myself to a version of me that was stronger or leaner.
What are your current biggest projects?
Currently, I’m working on building my first Wellness Retreat in 2018. I recently embarked on my Yoga Teacher Training and hope to complete that within this year in addition to being a holistic health coach.
What would you say to someone who’s afraid of trying something new or to start moving?
All you need to do is find your edge and go 1% past that. You don’t need to be better than anyone else, just better than you were below your comfort zone.
Lastly — where are you headed next?
Life this year has been full throttle and I hope to continue on the path that allows me to become a better version of myself. I stand by the motto of living a life that is “Relentlessly Beautiful” and I strive to align this within all spectrums of my life from being a mom, wife and my role in the fitness community.
Sign up for the Twin Peaks Mile challenge or the SF Bay Half at Virgin Sport SF this coming October 14–15, and #GoFitYourself with Go Fit Jo!
