Hey, I'm Joonas
For those of you not quite fluent in the pronunciation of Finnish names, it’s Yoo-nas. Rad, right?
I help women over 40 feel strong and pain-free on the trails. With a dose of swagger.
That’s what I do. Now, with the risk of getting philosophical, who am I?
A husband to one. A dad to two.
I love books and pinball machines. My favourite letter of the alphabet is ‘Z’. I do not like snakes. And I am yet to understand the feelings I experience when watching old Bruce Willis movies.
I am also a recovered fitness addict.
In my twenties, life was mostly about the gym. I was counting calories with the same obsession that Stephen Hawking counted the awareness of space. Every training session had to resemble the van Damme’s Kickboxer training montage.
This led to orthorexia, over-training and being constantly sick or injured.
In hindsight, it made as much sense as continuously sticking fingers into a motorised pencil sharpener.
I was dealing with relentless back and hip pain and had my share of shoulder and knee issues. I probably spent more money on doctors and physiotherapists than OJ spent on lawyers.
Around 2013 something clicked.
In a good way. Being more reasonable about my training and everything that comes with it has improved the quality of my life and the quality of my relationships.
And somewhat paradoxically, I am stronger, fitter and healthier than I was during my relentless fitness addict years. Although, I no longer have a six-pack. Oh, well.
I’ve been a coach since 2011.
The mission with Reps And The Rest is to spread the gospel of reasonable fitness. To help my clients and readers live an active life doing dope things that bring them joy. Whatever that means to each person. Ideally, without actually doing dope, though.
With 13+ years of coaching clients, I know things.
I don’t just write about strength, health, fitness, and life in some dark and greasy suburban basement in between marathon sessions of Mario Kart and eating Pringles.
In 2018, I wrote a book.
As for some (more) random trivia…
I grew up in the harsh Arctic temperatures of Finnish Lapland, which (partly) explains my deep affection for black coffee and metal.
I am also a raging and sometimes irresponsible lactose intolerant. I can’t eat ice cream?! Watch me.
I am a dad of two and a husband of one. I grew up in Finland, but we now live between a world heritage rainforest and The Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Australia. Ridiculous, I know.
My favourite letter of the alphabet is ‘Z’. I do not like snakes. I love books, Springsteen, and pinball machines. And I am yet to understand the feelings I experience when watching old Bruce Willis movies.
I’ve called Australia home since 2007 and still can’t get into flat whites.
You should definitely subscribe to my newsletter and get the free five-day Hiking After 40 email course for women.
As one subscriber put it:
“This newsletter is the absolute worst. I f*cking hate it.”
What else is there to say?
Thanks for being here.
-J