Some relationships with movement begin as discipline. Others begin as curiosity. For Jolien Heetkamp, it began as wonder.
As a child, she was captivated by the circus. It was not just entertainment, for her it was possibility. Alongside her sisters, she would recreate what she saw, building makeshift performances in her backyard, imitating the acrobats who seemed to move beyond the perceived limits of the human body.
“I dreamt of being a circus artist,” she recalls.
That dream took shape when she joined a sports acrobatics club in her small town, where she trained between the ages of 12 and 16. Those early years were filled with movement, play, and discovery. The body felt like something to explore, not something to question.
But at 16, everything changed.
When Movement Was Taken Away
Jolien was diagnosed with Lyme disease, a condition that would affect her for the next 16 years. What began as a disruption slowly turned into a defining chapter of her life.
For the first decade, she lived without clarity. Pain became constant, but its cause remained uncertain. The absence of answers made the experience even more difficult.
“The biggest challenge was definitely 16 years of illness,” she says.
The physical limitations were immediate. Activities that once came naturally became inaccessible. At times, her body could not keep up with what her mind wanted to do. The disconnect was frustrating, isolating, and often invisible to others.
“There’s something difficult about being limited by your body when your mind wants more,” she reflects.
There were also deeper challenges. Living with long-term pain changes how you see yourself. Over time, that pain can become part of your identity. Letting go of it, even in the process of healing, requires confronting who you are without it.
Yet through those years, Jolien held on to something that would ultimately guide her forward: mental strength, trust, and an ability to find beauty in small moments.
Discovering a New Path Through Yoga
Even during the hardest periods of her illness, Jolien’s fascination with movement never disappeared. It simply adapted.
She pursued a Master’s degree in Human Movement Sciences, driven by a desire to understand the body on a deeper level. During her studies, she discovered yoga.
At first, yoga offered something simple but essential: accessibility. It was a form of movement she could still practice, even while navigating the physical limitations of her condition.
Later, during one of the most severe phases of her illness, when she was confined to a wheelchair, yoga took on a new role.
“I decided to do a Yoga Teacher Training to learn more about the healing benefits,” she explains.
Yoga was no longer just a practice; it became a tool for rebuilding connection with her body. It offered not only physical movement, but presence, awareness, and a sense of control in a time when much felt uncertain.
Finding Joy Again Through AcroYoga
While yoga provided grounding, Jolien eventually rediscovered something she had been missing – play.
That moment came when she discovered AcroYoga, a practice that combines yoga and acrobatics.
“I found my passion immediately,” she says.
AcroYoga brought together everything she had experienced before. The discipline of yoga, the creativity of acrobatics, and the joy of shared movement. It also introduced her to a community of people who approached movement with curiosity and openness.
More than anything, it reconnected her with the joy she had experienced as a child.
It was not just about rebuilding strength. It was about rediscovering what movement could feel like.
That passion gradually evolved into her current path, where she now teaches, coaches, and leads retreats, sharing the practices that helped her regain both her health and her sense of self.
A New Perspective on Strength
Jolien’s journey has shaped how she understands strength.
For her, strength is not just physical. It is emotional, mental, and deeply personal. It is built through resilience, patience, and the willingness to keep going even when progress is slow or uncertain.
Her years of illness have also given her a unique ability to empathize with others.
“This experience has shaped the way I guide people,” she explains.
She approaches teaching with patience and authenticity, understanding that every individual’s path is different. Her guidance is not theoretical. It is lived.
That authenticity is something her students feel. It is reflected in the way she teaches, the way she communicates, and the way she creates space for others to explore their own journey.
Redefining Fitness and Wellness
As Jolien’s practice evolved, so did her perspective on fitness.
For a long time, she viewed traditional gym training as separate from her more spiritual practices. “I used to say, I don’t lift weights, I lift people.”
But that perspective changed.
Two years ago, she began strength training, initially to address lower back pain. What started as a practical solution became an important part of her routine.
Today, she recognizes the value of muscle mass, particularly for women. It supports hormones, metabolism, and overall physical capability.
At the same time, her yoga practice has become less focused on physical posture and more centered on subtler aspects such as meditation, mantra, and philosophy.
She now sees strength and spirituality as complementary rather than separate.
“The combination of gym training and yoga is very powerful,” she explains.
Together, they create a more complete approach to health, one that supports both the body and the mind.
The Role of Play and Community
A defining element of Jolien’s philosophy is joy.
Movement, in her view, should not feel like obligation. It should feel like something you want to return to.
“Whatever you pick as your movement practice, make it one that you enjoy doing,” she says.
This emphasis on enjoyment is not just about making fitness more appealing. It is about creating consistency. When people enjoy what they do, they are more likely to continue doing it.
AcroYoga plays a key role in this approach. It introduces an element of playfulness that is often missing in adult life.
“It brings out your inner child,” she explains.
Beyond physical benefits, it also creates a space for connection. Participants learn to communicate, build trust, and navigate challenges together.
In a world that often feels structured and serious, this sense of play can be transformative.
Building Consistency Through Identity
For many people, consistency is the hardest part of any fitness journey.
Jolien addresses this through mindset.
One of the most powerful shifts she describes is the idea of identity.
“I used to see myself as someone who struggled with movement,” she reflects.
Over time, she consciously changed that narrative. She began to see herself as someone who moves, who trains, and who embraces physical expression.
That shift changed her behavior.
When your actions align with your identity, consistency becomes natural. When they don’t, resistance appears.
She also emphasizes the importance of understanding your “why.”
When the motivation behind your actions is clear and meaningful, it becomes easier to stay committed.
For Jolien, that motivation is rooted in living a healthy, active life that allows her to do the things she loves, from hiking to acrobatics.
Creating a Sustainable Practice
Jolien’s approach to fitness is not about intensity or perfection. It is about sustainability.
She recognizes that not everyone has the time or flexibility to dedicate hours each day to movement practices. Instead, she encourages people to start small.
A short mobility routine. A few minutes of meditation. Practices that fit into daily life rather than disrupt it.
“Find what works for you,” she says.
This individualized approach avoids the pressure of rigid systems and allows people to build habits that are realistic and maintainable.
She also emphasizes the value of support. Coaching, mentoring, and community can help individuals overcome challenges and stay aligned with their goals.
While workshops and retreats can inspire change, she believes that long-term transformation comes from consistent effort over time.
A Journey That Continues
Jolien Heetkamp’s story is not one of returning to where she once was. It is about moving forward with a new understanding of strength, resilience, and possibility.
Her journey from childhood curiosity to chronic illness and back into movement has shaped not only her life, but the way she guides others.
Today, her work is rooted in authenticity. She teaches what she has lived. She shares what she has experienced.
And through that, she offers something valuable to those she works with.
Not just techniques or practices, but perspective.
A reminder that strength is not something fixed.
It is something that can be rebuilt.
Redefined.
And rediscovered, no matter where you begin.
