In the realm of health and wellness, Jane Hogan stands out as a unique force—a Wellness Engineer on a mission to unravel the complexities of healing rheumatoid arthritis through a holistic lens. Armed with her engineering problem-solving and project management skills, Jane embarked on a journey to discover natural remedies, determined to avoid medications and their potential side effects as a last resort. Understanding the significant impact of stress as a trigger for rheumatoid arthritis, Jane meticulously evaluated its presence in her life. Recognizing the transformative power of food—both to harm and heal—she delved into experiments with her diet and eating habits. Guided by stories of healing as her inspiration, Jane embraced a new lifestyle, all the while monitoring, tracking, charting, and graphing her symptoms. Her approach was grounded in trust, relying on the wisdom of her body and inner guidance to navigate a path toward lasting wellness. Join Mystic Mag as we delve into the fascinating journey of Jane Hogan, The Wellness Engineer, as she ingeniously engineers her way towards healing, embracing unconventional methods and pioneering a holistic approach to managing rheumatoid arthritis.
Can you share your personal journey that led you to become a Health Coach, or “The Wellness Engineer”? What inspired you to pursue a career in promoting health and well-being?
I worked as an engineer for 30 years, primarily as a structural engineer. My little joke is that my own structure started to fail because I began experiencing joint pain that would migrate throughout my body. Within three months, I went from being healthy and strong to barely able to walk, with no grip strength in my hands and difficulty turning door handles, getting stuck in rooms. I experienced shoulder pain, wrist pain, hand pain, knee pain, jaw pain, foot pain – a lot of pain throughout my body. It would shift around, and I didn’t know what was causing it. Neither did my doctor.
At a rock bottom moment curled up in pain, I was feeling hopeless about my life and wondering how I ended up in such a situation. I didn’t know what was wrong, and I contemplated not wanting to continue living like this. Then, I had a moment of clarity and heard a voice telling me that this was not how my life was meant to turn out. I would figure it out and teach others.
Even though I was still in a lot of pain, I felt determined to figure things out. My doctor suggested that while waiting for tests and consultations with specialists, I could try eliminating certain foods associated with joint pain. This surprised me because I didn’t know that foods could affect joints. I cut out gluten, dairy, and sugar, and within five days, I experienced a significant reduction in pain. I still had inflammation and some pain, but it was much less than before, and shifted me from feeling hopeless to empowered.
This set me on a research campaign on how to heal naturally. Along the way, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, but by then, I was starting to feel better due to lifestyle changes and working with a naturopathic doctor. It took a couple of years, but I completely reversed all the pain.
This experience led me to reevaluate my career. My heart was no longer in engineering; I wanted to help people. So, I decided to become a health coach. I took a break from my engineering career to focus on my health and never went back. I dedicated myself to coaching and helping others, making it my mission to teach people how to overcome health challenges. That’s what led me to become a health coach.
In your experience, what are the most common challenges individuals face when trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and how do you tailor your coaching strategies to address these challenges?
I would say that my strategies have evolved over the years. In the beginning, when I first started coaching, I focused on implementing lifestyle changes, especially related to food. As I gained more insights during my personal healing journey, my coaching approach also underwent significant changes.
To begin with, encouraging people to eliminate certain foods often met with resistance. However, the primary challenge I face now is convincing individuals that they are capable of healing themselves. Our societal conditioning has led us to believe that we need external intervention, whether through doctors or medications, to fix our health issues. The realization that we possess the ability to heal ourselves is often a major hurdle.
Presently, my coaching approach doesn’t solely revolve around dietary advice. Instead, I emphasize lifestyle changes that involve removing stressors. This can encompass various aspects, including dietary choices, relationships, thoughts, and addressing past traumas. Importantly, it’s about recognizing that we are not merely physical bodies; we are beings of energy. This understanding aligns with ancient wisdom, religious teachings, and modern quantum science, all asserting that everything is energy. Therefore, our approach to health must encompass the energetic aspect of our existence. Focusing only on the physical component limits the resources we can tap into.
What type of services do you offer?
I used to provide one-on-one coaching, but now I have entirely shifted to a group coaching model. I believe that the strength lies in community, and this way, I can assist a larger number of people. One-on-one coaching can be expensive, making it inaccessible to many. Moreover, the changes I advocate for are not quick fixes. While some individuals might experience rapid transformations, most people require time to shift their mindset and habits. This gradual process necessitates extended coaching, which many individuals find financially challenging.
To make my coaching more accessible, I have introduced a group coaching membership program called “Living Pain-Free.” This is the only program where I offer coaching. Additionally, I have some DIY courses, but the group coaching program is designed to cater to a broader audience and provide ongoing support.
Building a strong client-coach relationship is crucial in health coaching. Can you share an example of a challenging client scenario you’ve encountered and how you successfully navigated and supported the individual through their health journey?
I believe the most significant assistance comes from the way people discover me – the fact that I live what I coach and teach. I serve as a constant role model for individuals, and the knowledge that I have successfully navigated this journey helps others shift their beliefs. As mentioned earlier, the most significant challenge lies in addressing people’s beliefs. Consequently, I continually return to foundational information in my teachings. By consistently imparting this knowledge and earning their trust through my personal experiences and successful assistance to others, I can overcome the challenges primarily rooted in people’s beliefs. Building trust and being a living example form the core of how I tackle these obstacles.
As a Health Coach, you likely encounter diverse client populations. How do you adapt your coaching style to cater to the unique needs and preferences of individuals from different backgrounds and with varying health objectives?
My program consists of six flexible steps, and it’s entirely adaptable in terms of the time it takes for individuals to complete it and the choices they make along the way. I’ve included some milestones for people to follow, but the process is entirely customizable because everybody is unique. I also provide science-backed DIY tools to help the body release chronic pain.
The primary goal of the program is to guide individuals in tuning into themselves – listening to the messages from their bodies and trusting their intuition. I empower them to follow their unique guidelines because everyone possesses their own inner wisdom that knows what’s best for them. I cannot determine what’s best for everyone; my role is to teach them how to tune into their inner wisdom.
Essentially, my approach involves teaching people how to connect with their own messages, be attentive to their bodies, and cultivate awareness. The program serves as a continuous reminder to come back to this awareness whenever they may stray off course. It provides ongoing encouragement for individuals to be mindful and tune into the messages their bodies are conveying and become empowered in their own healing through the integration of mind, body and spirit.
