Q & A with Sonia Jhas
Sonia Jhas is an award winning Mindset and Wellness Coach who left her corporate career to pursue her passion for helping others live their best lives through online talks, coaching, and TV appearances. As a cross cultural child of immigrants, she struggled with identity, purpose, body image, and negative self-talk. Sonia transformed her life, following her instincts and realigning with her values. Her holistic approach to her work addresses physical and mental wellness, resulting in long-lasting transformations. As an entrepreneur, wife, and mother, it is easy to see how people resonate with her journey and understand how she has become the unstoppable force in health and wellness that she is today.
Sonia’s keynote and signature talks educate, motivate, and inspire individuals to take brave personal action. With a social media following of over 350,000 and clients such as Girl Talk Empowerment Day, Scotiabank, TD Bank, and IBM, Sonia is a sought-after speaker and author who published her first book just last week!
We’re so excited to bring you this Q&A with Sonia Jhas.
What does comfort mean to you?
To me, comfort means an overall sense of ease and well-being. It means embracing the ebbs and flows of everyday life by weaving moments of calm into them. It means staying grounded in the “now” instead of over-ruminating on the past or future.
Do you have a bedtime routine? If so, what do you do to prep for sleep?
I like to get into comfortable clothes, wind down with a little breathwork, and then sip on something warm while I read, listen to a podcast, or indulge in a guilty-pleasure TV show.
You've recently written your first book. A huge CONGRATS! What's the one thing you hope readers will take away from I'll Start Again Tomorrow?
Thank you! I hope that the key takeaway for readers of I’ll Start Again Tomorrow is that joy is found in the journey. When we set out on a mission to “fix” ourselves– whether that means “fixing” our health, our bodies, our diets, or our overall wellness– it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of the end destination. We think that if we “fix” all the things on our list, we’ll suddenly become new, happier, better people. But the reality is that we’re not going to ever arrive at this point– it doesn’t exist. Instead, the focus should be on embracing the person that you are today and caring for that version of yourself with your actions, intentions, and goals.
How did you discover This Is J?
My husband, Sumit, actually discovered This Is J on Instagram! And Sumit, being Sumit, decided that he absolutely needed these PJs and ordered a set for himself. Which then, of course, turned into him buying sets for the kids and then a set for me. Now, This Is J PJ sets are the only ones we own!
Are you team PJ set or team Nightie?
Team PJ set because they’re more acceptable to wear in public! I love having the option of not having to change out of my PJs (or even changing from my “sleep” PJ set to a “daytime” PJ set).
Do you have a favourite This Is J pattern or collection?
My Indigo Blue Tie Dye Henley Harem set is my absolute favourite. I love how they look and feel.
What's the first thing you do when you walk through your door at the end of the day?
I take off my makeup the second I walk through the door. It helps me switch from “work” mode into “home” mode, and there’s also no point trying to wear makeup at home with two kids crawling all over me.
What's the most important thing you look for in sleepwear?
I like my sleepwear to be lightweight, breathable, and soft. I also need cuffs at the bottom of my PJ pants so that they don’t ride up while I’m sleeping!
We hear your kids are big fans of our PJs! What do you think it is that makes them love our Kid Jammers so much?
The kids love the Jammers so much because the colours and patterns are fun, and the fabric is so comfortable. The kids don’t feel restricted at all– they can run, jump, and play. Honestly, they don’t even seem to notice that they’re wearing them. Niam especially hates wearing clothes, so Jammers are the closest he can get to being naked out in the world and he loves it. (Seriously. He hasn’t worn anything but Jammers to school for almost five months at this point).
We were so inspired by your Ted X Talk "Where Do The Happy People Live" - what are three things that make you feel happy these days?
Three things that make me happy these days are quality time with my family, daily mindful movement, and connecting with people who have received and started reading my book!
Are you a go out and dance on tables or stay in and stay cozy type of person?
I feel like I’m both types of person! At the end of the day, I am an introvert, so staying cozy is my natural vibe, but I also crave non-mom-mode living sometimes. I try to weave in more dynamic and social activities and balance them with comfy, cuddly nights at home with the kids!
We love when we see you on your Instagram Stories wearing our Jammers throughout the day! What do you think it is about our PJs that makes them wearable outside of the bedroom?
They’re so wearable outside of the bedroom because they essentially look like a cute little matching set or a romper. They sit nicely on your body, they don’t look sloppy, and they feel great to wear throughout the day. I get compliments whenever I wear them outside of the house!
Who has been your most important professional mentor?
My friend and mentor, Bavidra Mohan, has played a key role in finding my voice and helping me get clear on my purpose and my impact. He’s so good at pushing me to dig deeper, think bigger, and uncover what I’m here to do. If you could go back and give your 18-year-old selves one piece of advice, what would it be?
If you could go back and give your 18-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Stop trying to square-peg-round-hole your soul. Don’t spend your time and energy angsting about whether you’re good enough for the outside world. Instead, get to know who you really are, what you really like, and what you really want for yourself, and then build a life around that. Ultimately, that’s the only way to feel good in your skin.
We're celebrating International Women's Day this month. This year's theme is #EmbraceEquity. As an award-winning mindfulness and wellness expert with a unique brand of inspirational education, what does equity mean to you?
To me, equity means meeting each individual where they are by accepting and acknowledging where they’ve come from and where they want to go. It means identifying what you personally need to succeed, and recognizing that others have their own unique and distinct needs. It means leading, listening, and learning with love and openness.
