Jocelyn Hinz

Meet Jocelyn. She has spent the last couple of years molding into an advocate for women’s health, specifically calling all women to tune into their bodies and ask the difficult questions. This includes turning in and keeping yourself accountable, but also remaining critical of doctors, social media, and the everyday habits that can wreak havoc on our systems. When asked what she felt her purpose was in life, she explained that her purpose is not linear but that her heart right now feels that reminding women that movement is important and to honour the cyclical nature of life is critical. On her journey, she wants to help other women realize their truth by trusting themselves and their intuition. 

Jocelyn has openly discussed her fertility journey on social media and with friends. She states it began 3 years ago when she noticed she would bleed anytime she engaged in physical activity, such as running. When she visited the doctor with her concerns, her fertility came into question. She explained that as soon as girls reach puberty, the message is clear: do not get pregnant. But, no one tells you the complexities of how to get pregnant when you are actually trying.

The following months included a number of blood tests, ultra-sounds, and painful internal exams before concluding that she has blocked fallopian tubes. She recalled this moment so vividly - Jocelyn said she dropped to her knees and wept. It was such new information in a territory she felt unfamiliar in, with little capacity to cope with the news. Her obstetrician referred her to a fertility clinic where they are currently waiting on IVF treatment. The first round in Ontario is covered under OHIP, however, there is a long waitlist. 

The emotional toll has been a big one. She explained that women are taught from such a young age that when they decide to get pregnant, it will happen and that is not her currently reality which makes her feel like she has in some ways failed. Jocelyn and her partner are now navigating wait times that rely on a team of people, which is completely out of their control. 

She explains that she has met many other women who feel the exact same way that she does. Not only are there thousands of women who are struggling with their fertility, but the feelings of failure and defeat are common - but, nobody was talking openly about it at the time. She explains that this is why she shares the good, the bad, the ugly. She knows that if she can help even one woman feel seen and heard, she is doing the right thing by sharing.

A major theme in Jocelyn’s life currently is “home.” Jocelyn recently published a co-authored book on women in different realms of health and fitness called, “Freedom to Fitness.” In her chapter, she discusses coming home to her body after the years of drinking and not listening to her body. Now, she explains that she feels most “at home” outside, in nature with her hubby Devon, and her dog, Finn.

When asked what important advice she would give to her younger self, she responded: 

“Trust your big feelings and feel them all the way through. I think I had to have all of those years of drinking and beating my body up to come to a place of being able to process and feel deeply - this is so I could begin to unravel and land back home.”