Yogini, concept developer, coach, trainer and educator in health and wellness, these are some of the titles that fit well with Johanna Hector. We are many, especially in the yoga world who follow and let ourselves be inspired by Johanna’s zest for life, wisdom and who remind us that life is there to explore and enjoy. Johanna runs both the training company Global Yoga, which specializes in yoga training, workshops and community as well as SoulWorkClub, a holistic wellness club online where you will find all of Johanna’s very useful tools and rituals. This is the first time I meet Johanna outside the yoga mat, it will be a wonderful chat on a cliff in Särö, near where she lives.

Can you tell us about your path to where you are today professionally?

I discovered yoga while studying in high school in Swaziland (South Africa). I was both challenged while falling in love completely. The yoga was exactly what I needed and at the same time it challenged me a lot. Since then, I have participated in about two to five courses per year in yoga, exercise, psychology, pedagogy, recovery and various forms of coaching. In the beginning I studied at the university at the same time, some of me thought that it was important to do that and that yoga was just a hobby. But when I was personally drafted by NIKE as their head coach, it tipped over and I started working on my passion full time.

Soul Work Club – how was the concept born?

Longing for some juicy training. Training that was not only functional, or just for fun. Smart training that gave results and was satisfactory. Then I also knew right away that we could not just work with movement. We needed to work on exercises for the thoughts, feelings and our relationship to the food as well. As well as tools (lifehacks that I work a lot with) to bring these rituals into a simple and sustainable way in everyday life. I also longed for the feeling of having danced all night, walking home with my shoes in my hand and a smile on my face. That feeling without having to be up all night and to be completely sober :) That’s how DayClub was born!

In SoulWork, you are all welcome. You are inspired to explore your pleasure, learn to take for yourself, to ask for what you want as if you deserved it! Praise your body and become meaningfully strong so that you can take part in life, no matter what comes your way!

What are your daily routines for making you feel as good as possible, and what do you never exclude?

My rituals are so steady, I have been doing them for so long now that I am confident in letting go of them for quite a few days. So there is nothing I can not compromise with in the short term. But in the long run I need:

Drink fresh water with lemon in the morning.

Make a quick lymph massage and dry brush the body + put on Curam’s static cups.

A few minutes of facial and scalp massage.

Two minutes ice cold shower.

Naked dancing and a deeply juicy breath of gratitude.

Then the day begins!

During the day I would like to get in one of the following, some days it becomes everything and some days one thing and then I am just as happy :)

Some form of movement (usually a short WorkOut workout from SoulWork or a WorkIn), palo santo and music, that’s a big part of my life.

Love to add dynamic meditation and breathing exercises

Swim in the sea (preferably when it is cold :) and then for a while in the IR sauna with Curam oil and the dynamic cup. Massage your feet and upwards!

Yoga nidra – the yogic sleep, I lie down on the floor and close my eyes for 15min.

Walk barefoot for at least a few minutes, feet in the ground or on the grass when I pick up the mail.

In the evening I SoulSurf, preferably with my husband. Asks questions to each other and listens. Turns off all lights, removes all blue light and light candles. Incense or palo santo, softens the senses, goddess time. Going from being in my masculine energy at work or in the family to my feminine, so that I can receive. Sometimes the children wake up and other nights we both work. So this ritual can be anywhere from three minutes to 90 minutes :)

What does your training/health philosophy look like?

I have always liked to train smart instead of hard. I train to live and not the other way around. That’s why I like effective training in everyday life and diving deep for hours when I’m on training or retreat!

You talk a lot about the importance of daring to rest, why has rest become so important to you and how is it expressed in your daily life?

When my second daughter was six months old, I lay like a wet spot in the hall. I was completely exhausted. New have mother of two children, self-employed and a “good girl”. I was burned out. I had not slept a whole night in seven months and although I had routines, they were still masculine, they became another pressure. That’s when I discovered the feminine way. The juicy satisfying way where rest is not something you can do wrong. My routines became rituals, my mischievous, playful sides came up again, and with them the desire. The desire for life. That’s the way it is. Today I rest daily, my husband and I encourage each other to rest, to take a seat, to play and not get caught up in the serious.

What is the highlight of your daily life?

That I get another day on this earth. Just saying that reminds me and makes me completely excited. I’m so grateful.

What are you most proud of about yourself and in your own personal development?

My courage and my curiosity combined with my discipline. This means that I do not see obstacles, I do not remember how hard it has been because I color my world so strongly that I always feel like a winner in life’s lottery!

Dream wildly – What does your life look like in 10 years?!

Then I’m 48, how fun! I spend a lot of time with my family, we explore adventures together that develop us and nourish us. My husband and I are in love more than ever. SoulWork is a world wide community with many coaches and different voices so that everyone can find a home and reflect. DayClubs in Ibiza and Bali, Varberg and maybe online. We contribute to public health by giving people the tools to strengthen themselves and feel community and meaning. Global Yoga trains excellent yoga teachers throughout Scandinavia.

You are a role model and inspiration for many people, and how does it feel? And who are your role models?

It feels fantastic. I work actively not to be put on a pedestal though hahah! I have many role models, teachers who have inspired and influenced me are Cyndi Lee, Shiva Rea, Maty Ezraty, Paul Check, Ido Portal, Wim Hof, Ram Dass as well as many mystics and artists, friends and family and more hahah!

I work on the same thing there, not to put them on pedestals but to love them all :)

Can you share a book tips that has meant a lot to you?

Oh many. Be Here Now by Ram Dass, all with Mary Oliver and Pussy a Reclamation by Mama Gena!

To lose my father in a terrible and treacherous disease. That the doctors could not give a diagnosis for many years and that he died a slow death over almost 15 years.

It seems that you are a fairly diligent user of Curam’s cups – tell us – how do you use them and what purpose do they serve you?

I love them!! In my morning ritual I use two static cups that I put on the upper part of the thoracic spine. Then I use the dynamic cup with the lovely oil in the sauna and massage the whole body. That feeling afterwards mmmmmmmm!

Thank you Johanna for your incredible energy and exuberant way of inspiring us. We look forward to working with you in the future!

Photographer: Emilie Lager