(above) Photos through the years / Jennifer the owner of JOY (below)
JOY itself is a quality of life that is always present. Blissful, free, and happy by nature, containing depth and wisdom.
JOY is the ability to move into and through the difficult things to allow for the alchemical process of the difficult thing and the beauty of life to marry, merge, and change quality eventually becoming JOY. JOY is a deeply felt and experienced quality of being human.
JOY Studio is an external representation of the quality of JOY. The mission and development of JOY has been focused around community. We gather to practice and in that practice we create a collective energy and we create individual energy and these energies merge and disperse, contributing to collective healing and expanded awareness.
JOY has never been just a yoga studio. Yoga is a portal through which we enter into the deeper parts of life. The beautiful thing is that Yoga is for everyone and every body and this reflects at JOY. All are welcome. We are the most comfortable yoga studio around.
JOY has had over 7200 people walk through the doors for yoga, massage, training, reiki and over 500 graduates from our trainings.
Every body, every soul who enters the space is there with their unique story of what brought them in and on some level a willingness to grow and to show up not only for themselves but for the person next to them and so on.
Jennifer, the owner of JOY has always said that JOY is an entity in and of itself. The name, the space, the mission it carries a life of its own. From conception, JOY represents each of us on this journey of life. This human experience from a yogic point of view is designed to be enjoyed, to explore the deeper meanings, to peel back the layers of generational residue and reveal our true nature. Our true nature is JOY.
Every yogic and buddhist text will break it down to that word.
JOY
JOY is ancient wisdom.
We enter under the premise of said yoga class name but the intention behind the offering goes much deeper. In fact, the yoga sutras remind us to lose our fascination with our bodies. This does not mean let go of working on being healthy. It means that it is time to reveal our JOY through our practice.
The history of JOY
In 2013, Jennifer Charland began creating a business outline for a yoga studio and wellness center. When it came to name it she started with A Journey Om Yoga School. While going through business training she was encouraged to find an acronym within her business name if possible. It was in that moment that JOY stood out to her. She felt an overwhelming sense of JOY and tears filled her eyes. Alone in her house she jumped up and down and celebrated the birth of JOY.
This had been a dream since 2000 when she was in college for Interior Design, designing her senior thesis, a wellness center. The name of it back then was Concept of Light...a pretty good premonition for what JOY represents. Design school nourished and piggy backed on her younger years and her connection with the notion 'God is love' starting at a very young age she wondered what that meant.
In 2008, when Jennifer embarked on 200 hour yoga teacher training, she had already spent the previous 6 years studying and practicing yoga, buddhism, and meditation and held a masters degree in Holistic Wellness and a Phd just short of her dissertation (because the school closed) in Traditional Naturopathy. She was also a Reiki Master since 2003.
When the first YTT weekend came up, her 2nd child was a month old! Living in North Carolina and training in Virginia, the perfect plan because her ex-husband would be stationed in Virginia shortly after he returned from deployment and during YTT. That weekend, together they packed up the 2 kids and headed up so she could nurse between sessions.
Jennifers yoga teacher, Vimala Ren Fields was a master of teaching! At that time she had 40 years of teaching experience under some very prominent teachers such as Sri Swami Satchidananda. The training was in Integral Yoga and Muscular skeletal structure. Integral yoga (what Jennifer integrates into her classes) is:
Hatha Yoga; Postures, breathing, yoga nidra, mudras (energy seals), bandhas (energy locks), and kiryas.
Raja Yoga; The path of concentration and meditation
Bhakti Yoga: The path of love and devotion
Karma Yoga: The path of selfless service
Jnana Yoga: The path of wisdom
Japa Yoga: The practice of mantra repetition
During the duration of that training, she knew she needed to create a yoga teacher training that was about personal and spiritual development and growth that was accessible to as many people as possible. Hence the creation of the JOY 200 hour online yoga teacher training. The first of it's kind!
Upon graduation in 2009 she was given the name Bhavani - Compassion - oversee the living...and from that day on she began teaching and hasn't stopped
In 2011, Jennifer began 850 hours of Massage and Body Work therapy school. This training solidified all that she was learning about yoga, energy, and healing. Upon graduation she passed a rigorous National Bodywork Certification and began incorporating massage, reiki, and yoga into her work. This work led her to run the yoga program at Arizona Western College and eventually to teach at George Mason University.
All the things that led to the creation of JOY - Journey Om Yoga
Other accomplishments include:
Reiki Master Training with Suchinta Abryhanta, Tysons Corner VA 2002-2004
Care Giver Training and Volunteer work at The Enso House; home for the dying Whidbey Island WA 2005
Transformation Meditation Teacher certification 2006
Personal Mastery Intensive and True Self Leadership with Pathways Institute 2017-2017
Business training with Marie Forleo and Tony Robbins Business Mastery Program 2013 / 2019
Kirtan and Yoga Retreat 2019
300 Hour Vajra Yoga Teacher Training with Tenzin Robert Thurman and Michele Loew 2022-2023
Immersion in Ram Dass, Krishna Das Retreats and Maharaji path, Kirtan, Buddhism, Bhakti via Hawaii, Yatra to India, Boone NC, 2018 / 2019 / 2022
Caroline Myss: Wounds into Wisdom 2023
Daily Sadhana incorporating the practices through and with family life and business
Jennifer has a beautiful family with 3 children ages 19, 15, 2, and a loving partner in everything Joshua. Joshua is a champion of JOY and is a behind the scenes guy as well as a philosophy teacher at JOY. They embarked on the 300 hour Vajra Yoga teacher training together and enjoy studying, creating, reading, and discussing the many facets of yoga and Buddhism.
They met in 2019 on match of all places only to find out that they owned businesses across the street from each other! He owns East Coast Tattoo and Body Piercing.
JOY is the ability to move into and through the difficult things to allow for the alchemical process of the difficult thing and the beauty of life to marry, merge, and change quality eventually becoming JOY. JOY is a deeply felt and experienced quality of being human.
JOY Studio is an external representation of the quality of JOY. The mission and development of JOY has been focused around community. We gather to practice and in that practice we create a collective energy and we create individual energy and these energies merge and disperse, contributing to collective healing and expanded awareness.
JOY has never been just a yoga studio. Yoga is a portal through which we enter into the deeper parts of life. The beautiful thing is that Yoga is for everyone and every body and this reflects at JOY. All are welcome. We are the most comfortable yoga studio around.
JOY has had over 7200 people walk through the doors for yoga, massage, training, reiki and over 500 graduates from our trainings.
Every body, every soul who enters the space is there with their unique story of what brought them in and on some level a willingness to grow and to show up not only for themselves but for the person next to them and so on.
Jennifer, the owner of JOY has always said that JOY is an entity in and of itself. The name, the space, the mission it carries a life of its own. From conception, JOY represents each of us on this journey of life. This human experience from a yogic point of view is designed to be enjoyed, to explore the deeper meanings, to peel back the layers of generational residue and reveal our true nature. Our true nature is JOY.
Every yogic and buddhist text will break it down to that word.
JOY
JOY is ancient wisdom.
We enter under the premise of said yoga class name but the intention behind the offering goes much deeper. In fact, the yoga sutras remind us to lose our fascination with our bodies. This does not mean let go of working on being healthy. It means that it is time to reveal our JOY through our practice.
The history of JOY
In 2013, Jennifer Charland began creating a business outline for a yoga studio and wellness center. When it came to name it she started with A Journey Om Yoga School. While going through business training she was encouraged to find an acronym within her business name if possible. It was in that moment that JOY stood out to her. She felt an overwhelming sense of JOY and tears filled her eyes. Alone in her house she jumped up and down and celebrated the birth of JOY.
This had been a dream since 2000 when she was in college for Interior Design, designing her senior thesis, a wellness center. The name of it back then was Concept of Light...a pretty good premonition for what JOY represents. Design school nourished and piggy backed on her younger years and her connection with the notion 'God is love' starting at a very young age she wondered what that meant.
In 2008, when Jennifer embarked on 200 hour yoga teacher training, she had already spent the previous 6 years studying and practicing yoga, buddhism, and meditation and held a masters degree in Holistic Wellness and a Phd just short of her dissertation (because the school closed) in Traditional Naturopathy. She was also a Reiki Master since 2003.
When the first YTT weekend came up, her 2nd child was a month old! Living in North Carolina and training in Virginia, the perfect plan because her ex-husband would be stationed in Virginia shortly after he returned from deployment and during YTT. That weekend, together they packed up the 2 kids and headed up so she could nurse between sessions.
Jennifers yoga teacher, Vimala Ren Fields was a master of teaching! At that time she had 40 years of teaching experience under some very prominent teachers such as Sri Swami Satchidananda. The training was in Integral Yoga and Muscular skeletal structure. Integral yoga (what Jennifer integrates into her classes) is:
Hatha Yoga; Postures, breathing, yoga nidra, mudras (energy seals), bandhas (energy locks), and kiryas.
Raja Yoga; The path of concentration and meditation
Bhakti Yoga: The path of love and devotion
Karma Yoga: The path of selfless service
Jnana Yoga: The path of wisdom
Japa Yoga: The practice of mantra repetition
During the duration of that training, she knew she needed to create a yoga teacher training that was about personal and spiritual development and growth that was accessible to as many people as possible. Hence the creation of the JOY 200 hour online yoga teacher training. The first of it's kind!
Upon graduation in 2009 she was given the name Bhavani - Compassion - oversee the living...and from that day on she began teaching and hasn't stopped
In 2011, Jennifer began 850 hours of Massage and Body Work therapy school. This training solidified all that she was learning about yoga, energy, and healing. Upon graduation she passed a rigorous National Bodywork Certification and began incorporating massage, reiki, and yoga into her work. This work led her to run the yoga program at Arizona Western College and eventually to teach at George Mason University.
All the things that led to the creation of JOY - Journey Om Yoga
Other accomplishments include:
Reiki Master Training with Suchinta Abryhanta, Tysons Corner VA 2002-2004
Care Giver Training and Volunteer work at The Enso House; home for the dying Whidbey Island WA 2005
Transformation Meditation Teacher certification 2006
Personal Mastery Intensive and True Self Leadership with Pathways Institute 2017-2017
Business training with Marie Forleo and Tony Robbins Business Mastery Program 2013 / 2019
Kirtan and Yoga Retreat 2019
300 Hour Vajra Yoga Teacher Training with Tenzin Robert Thurman and Michele Loew 2022-2023
Immersion in Ram Dass, Krishna Das Retreats and Maharaji path, Kirtan, Buddhism, Bhakti via Hawaii, Yatra to India, Boone NC, 2018 / 2019 / 2022
Caroline Myss: Wounds into Wisdom 2023
Daily Sadhana incorporating the practices through and with family life and business
Jennifer has a beautiful family with 3 children ages 19, 15, 2, and a loving partner in everything Joshua. Joshua is a champion of JOY and is a behind the scenes guy as well as a philosophy teacher at JOY. They embarked on the 300 hour Vajra Yoga teacher training together and enjoy studying, creating, reading, and discussing the many facets of yoga and Buddhism.
They met in 2019 on match of all places only to find out that they owned businesses across the street from each other! He owns East Coast Tattoo and Body Piercing.
Kerri Thyne RYT-300
Tuesdays 6pm Take it Easy
I am long time yogi who just so happened to have made my way to this community in 2016 as a yoga student and friend to Jennifer! From years of practicing yoga in gyms or at home, I finally nestled in at JOY-and never looked back. The sacred space that JOY provided not only taught me what it felt like to explore the science of yoga and meditation as such but invited me to open myself to the sacredness within. I often share this story with my class of how I came to switch from student to staff and it goes like this:
One day, after a heart opening experience on my mat -under the yellow painted solar plexus chakra in the studio, I knew I wanted to be a part of the bigger picture with JOY. I actually said “Im going to work here.” I wanted to teach others how to feel liberated and free just how I felt lying in that harmonious state during savasana.
Not long after in 2019, Jennifer presented me with an opportunity to work with people on the healing side of JOY as a practitioner!! She trained me in the sacred service of foot soaks, private meditation sessions, and relaxing sauna soaks. I relished in taking care of others and how it weaved into my yoga practice. With 15+ years in education as a pre-k teacher turned public school educator working with all kinds of students; this new chapter was paved by my previous undertakings.
My first year in public school, I worked with middle school students who were faced with emotional and behavioral challenges which brought me to special needs students with autism and spectrum disorders. My last two years in public school were spent working with elementary students new to the country with limited communication.
I had students from Iran, Burma, and Africa. These experiences gave me a very deep understanding for the world, the many cultures and the need for connection. It fostered my nurturing side and still holds a presence in the way I view the world. In 2012, I chose to stay home with my own children and full immersed myself in motherhood. (That’s whole chapter
In itself!!)
Fast forward to 2020-when the world was standing still on shaky grounds, I leaped into my first Yoga Teacher Training with JOY School of Yoga! At the height of some of the most challenging times, I dove into my practice head first! Completing my 200 hours, I taught my first class in June of 2020! Most recently, I completed my 300 hour YTT with JOY in May 2023 and found myself diving even deeper into yoga philosophy, Buddhism, energy work, and my own spiritual philosophy. I will be starting my reiki master program and sound healing certification this summer here with JOY and look forward to bringing that to my students!
My greatest inspirations come from my 4 amazingly wild (or wildly amazing) children; Ricky 21 (USAF active), Brooke 14, Madelyn 10, and Willow 21 months! Their soul’s presence in my life has given me the fortitude to heal myself-and to live with an open heart!
My long time partner/husband, Rick, who has supported me through all my endeavors is my best friend. He is usually my Guinea pig for trying new methods or practices on.
I am a lover of: music, being outdoors, my (smelly, old) rescue dog Pokey, and being with others. I delight is the simple things-like a good cup of coffee and the birds.
A couple of fun things about me; I am the baby of 9! (Yes, 9-bless my mother.) When I was little, you’d find me outside making “soups” in my buckets with rain water and things from my yard-and ironically, I love making soups in my kitchen and sharing with the ones I love! I am a Leo, a lover of writing, and I live to make people laugh! Im a true Mamarazzi with my iPhone. Oh, and I have 3 chickens and a fish!
My passion for teaching yoga and meditation is rooted in healing, empowerment, and self reflection. It is the work of the heart that keeps me motivated and inspired always.
Tuesdays 6pm Take it Easy
I am long time yogi who just so happened to have made my way to this community in 2016 as a yoga student and friend to Jennifer! From years of practicing yoga in gyms or at home, I finally nestled in at JOY-and never looked back. The sacred space that JOY provided not only taught me what it felt like to explore the science of yoga and meditation as such but invited me to open myself to the sacredness within. I often share this story with my class of how I came to switch from student to staff and it goes like this:
One day, after a heart opening experience on my mat -under the yellow painted solar plexus chakra in the studio, I knew I wanted to be a part of the bigger picture with JOY. I actually said “Im going to work here.” I wanted to teach others how to feel liberated and free just how I felt lying in that harmonious state during savasana.
Not long after in 2019, Jennifer presented me with an opportunity to work with people on the healing side of JOY as a practitioner!! She trained me in the sacred service of foot soaks, private meditation sessions, and relaxing sauna soaks. I relished in taking care of others and how it weaved into my yoga practice. With 15+ years in education as a pre-k teacher turned public school educator working with all kinds of students; this new chapter was paved by my previous undertakings.
My first year in public school, I worked with middle school students who were faced with emotional and behavioral challenges which brought me to special needs students with autism and spectrum disorders. My last two years in public school were spent working with elementary students new to the country with limited communication.
I had students from Iran, Burma, and Africa. These experiences gave me a very deep understanding for the world, the many cultures and the need for connection. It fostered my nurturing side and still holds a presence in the way I view the world. In 2012, I chose to stay home with my own children and full immersed myself in motherhood. (That’s whole chapter
In itself!!)
Fast forward to 2020-when the world was standing still on shaky grounds, I leaped into my first Yoga Teacher Training with JOY School of Yoga! At the height of some of the most challenging times, I dove into my practice head first! Completing my 200 hours, I taught my first class in June of 2020! Most recently, I completed my 300 hour YTT with JOY in May 2023 and found myself diving even deeper into yoga philosophy, Buddhism, energy work, and my own spiritual philosophy. I will be starting my reiki master program and sound healing certification this summer here with JOY and look forward to bringing that to my students!
My greatest inspirations come from my 4 amazingly wild (or wildly amazing) children; Ricky 21 (USAF active), Brooke 14, Madelyn 10, and Willow 21 months! Their soul’s presence in my life has given me the fortitude to heal myself-and to live with an open heart!
My long time partner/husband, Rick, who has supported me through all my endeavors is my best friend. He is usually my Guinea pig for trying new methods or practices on.
I am a lover of: music, being outdoors, my (smelly, old) rescue dog Pokey, and being with others. I delight is the simple things-like a good cup of coffee and the birds.
A couple of fun things about me; I am the baby of 9! (Yes, 9-bless my mother.) When I was little, you’d find me outside making “soups” in my buckets with rain water and things from my yard-and ironically, I love making soups in my kitchen and sharing with the ones I love! I am a Leo, a lover of writing, and I live to make people laugh! Im a true Mamarazzi with my iPhone. Oh, and I have 3 chickens and a fish!
My passion for teaching yoga and meditation is rooted in healing, empowerment, and self reflection. It is the work of the heart that keeps me motivated and inspired always.
Jo Ann Sibert RYT-200
Thursday 6pm Restorative Yoga
I found Yoga after recovering from a spinal fracture. The practice slowly built my body, mind and spirit back. My body will never be 100% as before,
but I am extremely grateful for what I do have.
Two years ago I decided to take the leap and jump into attaining my RYT200 Certificate. As the physical tasks happened as I was actually learning more about how much stronger you can be then your mind gives you credit.
My focus has been on Restorative and Yin Yoga practices. Both styles can bring such calming and centering. We all can use more calm and peace in our lives.
Off the mat, I enjoy spending time with my cat lil Edie, family and friends.
Joy Wellness - I now call it hOMe.
The guidance and energy from Jennifer is a privilege and rare gift.
The studio is so inviting, from the smell of incense as you walk up the stairs to the calmness of the yoga space. You will learn breathing to quiet the mind, alignment of your body and the teaching of spiritual leaders.
Your body and soul we will look forward to your practice at JOY Wellness Yoga
xoxo - Jo Ann
Thursday 6pm Restorative Yoga
I found Yoga after recovering from a spinal fracture. The practice slowly built my body, mind and spirit back. My body will never be 100% as before,
but I am extremely grateful for what I do have.
Two years ago I decided to take the leap and jump into attaining my RYT200 Certificate. As the physical tasks happened as I was actually learning more about how much stronger you can be then your mind gives you credit.
My focus has been on Restorative and Yin Yoga practices. Both styles can bring such calming and centering. We all can use more calm and peace in our lives.
Off the mat, I enjoy spending time with my cat lil Edie, family and friends.
Joy Wellness - I now call it hOMe.
The guidance and energy from Jennifer is a privilege and rare gift.
The studio is so inviting, from the smell of incense as you walk up the stairs to the calmness of the yoga space. You will learn breathing to quiet the mind, alignment of your body and the teaching of spiritual leaders.
Your body and soul we will look forward to your practice at JOY Wellness Yoga
xoxo - Jo Ann
Amy Jacobs RYT-200
Thursdays (10:15am (rotating with Mel / Yang) & 4:30pm Vinyasa-less flow
I’ve always been interested in fitness and starting taking exercise classes in my early twenties. I got certified to teach group exercise classes and Spin . I tried a few yoga classes, but found them challenging . I tried my first hot yoga class somewhere around 2009 on the recommendation of a friend who absolutely loved it. Unfortunately I did not, ending up with a migraine and dehydrated.
Fast forward to 2017 , when i took one of the first yoga classes a friend was teaching that was geared towards beginners and loved it!! I remember thinking I’d love to teach yoga one day. Since then, I started dabbling with yoga here and there, and eventually enrolled in an online teacher training class here at Joy during Covid. But with 3 kids home doing online schooling. I was preoccupied, and 2 years later had barely made it past the first section of the training.
In 2022, Jenn opened up a hybrid class and I jumped back in. I was uncomfortable at first, but I began to practice regularly and fell in love with the feeling that yoga brings. Not just the physical aspect, but learning mindfulness has been a game changer for me on and off the mat! I have adopted the practice of always coming back to my breath during any situation, immediately feeling calm and relaxed.
I trained under the beautiful soul Jennifer Charland, here at Joy and received my 300 hour YTT with an amazing group of women that I now consider friends . I recently became certified in Reiki 1, and am also a NSCA certified personal trainer.
I love to teach gentle flows, connecting breath to movement , holding poses for several breaths, allowing the body to relax and create space. I believe that everybody is different, and every body is different, and want everybody to know that yoga is for every single body!!
Thursdays (10:15am (rotating with Mel / Yang) & 4:30pm Vinyasa-less flow
I’ve always been interested in fitness and starting taking exercise classes in my early twenties. I got certified to teach group exercise classes and Spin . I tried a few yoga classes, but found them challenging . I tried my first hot yoga class somewhere around 2009 on the recommendation of a friend who absolutely loved it. Unfortunately I did not, ending up with a migraine and dehydrated.
Fast forward to 2017 , when i took one of the first yoga classes a friend was teaching that was geared towards beginners and loved it!! I remember thinking I’d love to teach yoga one day. Since then, I started dabbling with yoga here and there, and eventually enrolled in an online teacher training class here at Joy during Covid. But with 3 kids home doing online schooling. I was preoccupied, and 2 years later had barely made it past the first section of the training.
In 2022, Jenn opened up a hybrid class and I jumped back in. I was uncomfortable at first, but I began to practice regularly and fell in love with the feeling that yoga brings. Not just the physical aspect, but learning mindfulness has been a game changer for me on and off the mat! I have adopted the practice of always coming back to my breath during any situation, immediately feeling calm and relaxed.
I trained under the beautiful soul Jennifer Charland, here at Joy and received my 300 hour YTT with an amazing group of women that I now consider friends . I recently became certified in Reiki 1, and am also a NSCA certified personal trainer.
I love to teach gentle flows, connecting breath to movement , holding poses for several breaths, allowing the body to relax and create space. I believe that everybody is different, and every body is different, and want everybody to know that yoga is for every single body!!
Andrea Escobar RYT-500
Chance brought Andrea to yoga, but curiosity and desire to learn more about wellness kept her diving into the practice. Andrea fell in love with the practice of yoga as she discovered the therapeutic and meditative foundations of linking movement to breath in 2018.
The creative and physical expression on the mat served as a means to understand what she could not express emotionally. Yoga quickly became an important pillar in Andrea’s life. In 2021, Andrea completed her first yoga teacher training in the track of Hatha. A year later, Andrea became a 500 hour registered yoga teacher with her second training in Vinyasa.
Outside of the studio, you can find Andrea painting, traveling, finishing her degree, learning how to play the piano, and appreciating the arts in a myriad of forms. She is passionate about sharing the power of living in the present moment and finding a deeper connection through the mind and body connection. Andrea utilizes teaching as an opportunity to share with others a sacred practice that brought solace and immense personal growth into her life. In class, Andrea offers playful, imaginative, dynamic, and ultimately pragmatic classes taught at a pace that allows for intentional movement.
Chance brought Andrea to yoga, but curiosity and desire to learn more about wellness kept her diving into the practice. Andrea fell in love with the practice of yoga as she discovered the therapeutic and meditative foundations of linking movement to breath in 2018.
The creative and physical expression on the mat served as a means to understand what she could not express emotionally. Yoga quickly became an important pillar in Andrea’s life. In 2021, Andrea completed her first yoga teacher training in the track of Hatha. A year later, Andrea became a 500 hour registered yoga teacher with her second training in Vinyasa.
Outside of the studio, you can find Andrea painting, traveling, finishing her degree, learning how to play the piano, and appreciating the arts in a myriad of forms. She is passionate about sharing the power of living in the present moment and finding a deeper connection through the mind and body connection. Andrea utilizes teaching as an opportunity to share with others a sacred practice that brought solace and immense personal growth into her life. In class, Andrea offers playful, imaginative, dynamic, and ultimately pragmatic classes taught at a pace that allows for intentional movement.
Erika Halaby E-RYT200
Monday & Tuesday 9am rotating with Jennifer - an all levels mindful practice - beginners are welcome!
Erika Halaby, here. Some of you may remember me from teaching from 2020-2021, before the world went through great change, during our zoom days and through the unwind era before the sanctuary of JOY received it's transformation over the last year.
With that said, I am so happy to share that I am coming back to consistently serve this community by teaching on the weekly schedule and to have the chance to build collaborations with JOY.
You can find me on Monday for the grounding class at 9am. But don't fear- I will be on a rotating Mondays and Wednesday schedule with Jen! We chose to do this so we could fill our own cups and still teach the classes we love
This space means so much to me and the entity of JOY has guided me ever since I moved home from college and stepped into some of the greatest change of my life. When I never thought I would live back home(I'm from methuen but live in atkinson now), JOY showed me a reason to stay. To not run. But to find a home where life was calling me to be. It has continued to do that no matter where I've roamed.
My mission is to guide people closer to themselves, life's seasons and spirit's support through presence, ritual and time with Mother Earth. I try my best each day to live my mission for me and for you.
So I sincerely hope to see you soon, my old students, my new friends and to bring my loved ones from outside of JOY into this empowering community. I also look forward to sharing with you.. the business I own with my partner, Domenic(who will join in at Joy soon too) named Rooted Rose Recreation and Wellness. Some of you may have joined us for paddles in the past but we specialize in outdoor education, nature therapy and custom adventures! Jen and I are discussing some ways to bring us all together and we're hoping to offer a free membership to RR for 2023-2024. More updates to come but feel free to check out all of our events at rootedrose.org
Monday & Tuesday 9am rotating with Jennifer - an all levels mindful practice - beginners are welcome!
Erika Halaby, here. Some of you may remember me from teaching from 2020-2021, before the world went through great change, during our zoom days and through the unwind era before the sanctuary of JOY received it's transformation over the last year.
With that said, I am so happy to share that I am coming back to consistently serve this community by teaching on the weekly schedule and to have the chance to build collaborations with JOY.
You can find me on Monday for the grounding class at 9am. But don't fear- I will be on a rotating Mondays and Wednesday schedule with Jen! We chose to do this so we could fill our own cups and still teach the classes we love
This space means so much to me and the entity of JOY has guided me ever since I moved home from college and stepped into some of the greatest change of my life. When I never thought I would live back home(I'm from methuen but live in atkinson now), JOY showed me a reason to stay. To not run. But to find a home where life was calling me to be. It has continued to do that no matter where I've roamed.
My mission is to guide people closer to themselves, life's seasons and spirit's support through presence, ritual and time with Mother Earth. I try my best each day to live my mission for me and for you.
So I sincerely hope to see you soon, my old students, my new friends and to bring my loved ones from outside of JOY into this empowering community. I also look forward to sharing with you.. the business I own with my partner, Domenic(who will join in at Joy soon too) named Rooted Rose Recreation and Wellness. Some of you may have joined us for paddles in the past but we specialize in outdoor education, nature therapy and custom adventures! Jen and I are discussing some ways to bring us all together and we're hoping to offer a free membership to RR for 2023-2024. More updates to come but feel free to check out all of our events at rootedrose.org
Colin Garrett RYT-200
I was first introduced to yoga in 2020 through a google search: “how to heal back pain.”
I’ve always had a passion for movement, and before I found yoga, my primary outlet for that was lifting weights. My ambition to get stronger exceeded my ambition to use proper form however, and after a few years of lifting weights most days, I found myself in enough pain to know I needed to do something different.
After googling “how to heal back pain,” I came across a YouTube video that introduced me to my first yoga practice. It didn’t take long for me to notice my body started to feel better with a yoga routine, and I slowly began to challenge myself to try more yoga classes on YouTube.
Also in 2020, I moved to Hawaii to serve in the Army on active duty. Living on my own for the first time in a new place was a difficult experience for me, and during the pandemic I struggled to find ways to fill my off time. When gyms started to close because of the pandemic, I struggled even more. Those yoga classes I had found on YouTube ended up being a lot more than just a stretching routine—they became my main outlet for physical movement and a healthy way to fill my time while I was far away from family and friends.
As I began to dedicate more time to my YouTube yoga practice, I took more interest in the philosophy of yoga, and I was almost surprised to find that everything I read resonated with me. I figured that because the physical practice of yoga asana had healed my body, it was worth it to continue to go deeper into yoga to see what else it had to offer.
This eventually led to me attending my first studio classes in 2021 and then my 200-hour training with Hawaii Yoga Institute in 2023. Also in 2023, I completed my four-year contract with the Army and moved back to New Hampshire with the intention of pursuing a meaningful civilian career.
Right now, I work part-time as a personal trainer at F45 Training in Windham and I am also working towards becoming a high school English teacher.
I am excited and ready to take on the challenge of being a yoga teacher here at JOY and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my passion for yoga.
I was first introduced to yoga in 2020 through a google search: “how to heal back pain.”
I’ve always had a passion for movement, and before I found yoga, my primary outlet for that was lifting weights. My ambition to get stronger exceeded my ambition to use proper form however, and after a few years of lifting weights most days, I found myself in enough pain to know I needed to do something different.
After googling “how to heal back pain,” I came across a YouTube video that introduced me to my first yoga practice. It didn’t take long for me to notice my body started to feel better with a yoga routine, and I slowly began to challenge myself to try more yoga classes on YouTube.
Also in 2020, I moved to Hawaii to serve in the Army on active duty. Living on my own for the first time in a new place was a difficult experience for me, and during the pandemic I struggled to find ways to fill my off time. When gyms started to close because of the pandemic, I struggled even more. Those yoga classes I had found on YouTube ended up being a lot more than just a stretching routine—they became my main outlet for physical movement and a healthy way to fill my time while I was far away from family and friends.
As I began to dedicate more time to my YouTube yoga practice, I took more interest in the philosophy of yoga, and I was almost surprised to find that everything I read resonated with me. I figured that because the physical practice of yoga asana had healed my body, it was worth it to continue to go deeper into yoga to see what else it had to offer.
This eventually led to me attending my first studio classes in 2021 and then my 200-hour training with Hawaii Yoga Institute in 2023. Also in 2023, I completed my four-year contract with the Army and moved back to New Hampshire with the intention of pursuing a meaningful civilian career.
Right now, I work part-time as a personal trainer at F45 Training in Windham and I am also working towards becoming a high school English teacher.
I am excited and ready to take on the challenge of being a yoga teacher here at JOY and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my passion for yoga.
Barbara Sterling RYT 200
After major back surgery in 2003, Barbara had to abandon her fitness routine in the gym for something gentler and more conducive to the healing process. She took her first class in 2004 and never looked back.
Barbara owned her own Yoga business, Self Awakening Yoga Studio, in Salem NH from 2009 – 2015 where she balanced a full-time day job and family while managing the day to day operations and teaching 3 classes per week at her full-service studio.
Barbara has been teaching since 2011. She is a Certified Yoga Teacher through At Om Yoga Studio in Concord NH where she received her Teaching Certificate in 2015.
Barbara’s love and passion for yoga and all it has to offer on a spiritual, physical, and emotional level are evident in her teaching style. She is very much a hands-on teacher and infuses a humor in her classes.
Barbara earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from SNHU in Organizational Management and works full time as a Client Consultant helping employers choose comprehensive employee benefits.
Barbara is budding photographer who loves being out in nature walking with her dog, Gunner, and spending time with family.
After major back surgery in 2003, Barbara had to abandon her fitness routine in the gym for something gentler and more conducive to the healing process. She took her first class in 2004 and never looked back.
Barbara owned her own Yoga business, Self Awakening Yoga Studio, in Salem NH from 2009 – 2015 where she balanced a full-time day job and family while managing the day to day operations and teaching 3 classes per week at her full-service studio.
Barbara has been teaching since 2011. She is a Certified Yoga Teacher through At Om Yoga Studio in Concord NH where she received her Teaching Certificate in 2015.
Barbara’s love and passion for yoga and all it has to offer on a spiritual, physical, and emotional level are evident in her teaching style. She is very much a hands-on teacher and infuses a humor in her classes.
Barbara earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from SNHU in Organizational Management and works full time as a Client Consultant helping employers choose comprehensive employee benefits.
Barbara is budding photographer who loves being out in nature walking with her dog, Gunner, and spending time with family.
Monica Ballarano RYT-300
Yoga truly found me about two years ago when I was feeling overwhelmed from my job. I was mostly practicing yoga as a stress reliever. Yoga eventually became more than just a self-care routine. Yoga helps me find peace, love, and JOY in life. Yoga helps me feel deep compassion and helps me spread this compassion to others. Yoga continues to heal me physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically, and spiritually.
As someone who has a passion for helping others, I was called to pursue the Yoga Teacher Training at JOY Wellness and use it as a way to help others within my profession. Through yoga teacher training, I have found a wonderful group of supportive women and my love and passion for helping students heal through developing their yoga practice. Jennifer Charland has been incredibly supportive throughout my YTT journey. I’m eternally grateful for her knowledge, wisdom, and compassion she extends to all within the JOY Wellness community.
On the mat, I support students in staying grounded through guided meditation and breathwork, connecting breath to movement, chakra healing, sharing yoga philosophy, and promoting self-love. Through my experience working as a social worker and school counselor, I find that I naturally have a trauma-sensitive approach within my teaching style and make it a priority to create a safe space for all students. I’m also certified in Sound Healing and Reiki and enjoy integrating these practices in my yoga classes. I have found that I'm continuing to learn and grow in many ways as a yoga teacher after my training. Off the mat, I enjoy providing school counseling to students, traveling, hiking, cooking, and spending time with my loved ones.
I have truly found my second home at JOY Wellness. I feel so much gratitude to be given the opportunity to teach here and to be a part of the JOY Wellness community. I’m looking forward to seeing you on the mat!
Yoga truly found me about two years ago when I was feeling overwhelmed from my job. I was mostly practicing yoga as a stress reliever. Yoga eventually became more than just a self-care routine. Yoga helps me find peace, love, and JOY in life. Yoga helps me feel deep compassion and helps me spread this compassion to others. Yoga continues to heal me physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically, and spiritually.
As someone who has a passion for helping others, I was called to pursue the Yoga Teacher Training at JOY Wellness and use it as a way to help others within my profession. Through yoga teacher training, I have found a wonderful group of supportive women and my love and passion for helping students heal through developing their yoga practice. Jennifer Charland has been incredibly supportive throughout my YTT journey. I’m eternally grateful for her knowledge, wisdom, and compassion she extends to all within the JOY Wellness community.
On the mat, I support students in staying grounded through guided meditation and breathwork, connecting breath to movement, chakra healing, sharing yoga philosophy, and promoting self-love. Through my experience working as a social worker and school counselor, I find that I naturally have a trauma-sensitive approach within my teaching style and make it a priority to create a safe space for all students. I’m also certified in Sound Healing and Reiki and enjoy integrating these practices in my yoga classes. I have found that I'm continuing to learn and grow in many ways as a yoga teacher after my training. Off the mat, I enjoy providing school counseling to students, traveling, hiking, cooking, and spending time with my loved ones.
I have truly found my second home at JOY Wellness. I feel so much gratitude to be given the opportunity to teach here and to be a part of the JOY Wellness community. I’m looking forward to seeing you on the mat!