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ABOUT JOANNE

About Joanne

Certified Yoga Therapist C-IAYT

Joanne is a highly experienced and skilled Yoga Therapist. Since 1997 she has used yoga to help hundreds of people improve or recover their health. She has a lighthearted approach and is extremely responsive and attentive to the needs of her clients. 

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Her training, education and skills far surpass those of the average yoga teacher, and includes a comprehensive understanding of anatomy, physiology, and psycho-spirituality from both the eastern and western traditions.

Yoga therapy accreditation

I received my accreditation as a Yoga Therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists after documenting over 700 hours of therapeutic sessions with clients and presenting 22 case studies in addition to other requirements to meet the highest standards of accreditation in the industry. I have a multidisciplinary approach to yoga therapy heavily influenced by Feldenkrais, Somatics Yoga, Iyengar and Viniyoga lineages. Over the last twenty years I've had the good fortune to study with some amazing teachers including Pain Specialist, Physiotherapist and Yoga Therapist Neil Pearson and Robin Rothenberg highly regarded in the industry and author of The Essential Low Back Program. I also completed a certification program for cardiac and cancer therapy with Nischala Joy-Devi in 2010. Nischala-Joy was the primary yoga instructor for Dr. Dean Ornish's ground breaking program demonstrating that heart disease can be reversed with lifestyle medicine. Robin Rothenberg was the primary teacher in the studies funded by the NIH that demonstrated the benefits of a Viniyoga approach to healing low back pain. Most recently, in 2024, I completed three years of a 4 year Master in Practice Diploma of Osteopathic Manipulative Sciences in Hamilton where I increased my assessment skills and understanding of functional anatomy with more than 1000 hours of supervised, hands-on training in palpation, assessment and manual treatment.

Meda & Projects
Prior speaking engagements- Reviews:

"Hi Joanne, I am so glad that you joined us - your contribution was awesome and deeply appreciated. Very supportive to grounding in the body.Your teaching style is engaging and gentle - with slight adjustments to people that ultimately help to support their bodies...with gratitude,"  Shari   (MDPAC, Medical Psychotherapy Association Canada, annual weekend retreat with Dr. Shari Geller, Ph.D., C. Psych, Geneva Park, Orillia)

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"Hi Joanne,Thank you for your exceptional presentation and of course  filling in on such short notice. It was well appreciated by all.

Regards, Ann Parsons, Speaker Committee - Beaver Valley Probus Club

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"Joanne, you did a great job speaking to our Probus Group." Jim Theobalds, Speaker Chair - Probus Mountain View Club, Collingwood

Experience, Proojects & Collaborations:
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  • Collingwood Public Library. Free one hour talk on spinal health & posture improvement. (May 2019)
  • L.E. Shore Memorial Library, The Blue Mountains. Free one hour talk on spinal health and posture improvement.
  • Presentation/Workshop on Spinal Health & Posture Improvement (3 Hours), The Pyramid Centre, St. Marys, Ontario (April 2019)
  • Podcast Interview with Stephanie Cunningham at www.yogalightness.com.au My experience and training leading up to specializing in Low Back Pain & Sciatica. (April 2019)  Listen Now​ 
  • Podcast Interview with The Connected Yoga Teacher on sciatica. Listen Now
  • Keynote Speaker Mountain View Probus Club, Collingwood (March 2019) Topic: Yoga Therapy for Spinal Health & Functional Aging 
  • Former Yoga Therapist at Synergy Health & Wellness, Collingwood (2015-2018)
  • Keynote Speaker - Beaver Valley Probus Club, Thornbury (2018) Topic: Yoga Therapy for Functional Aging and Posture Improvement.
  • Guest Yoga Instructor at Cultivating Therapeutic Presence Retreat with Dr. Shari Geller, Clinical Psychologist (2018)
  • Published article in ON Yoga Magazine (Read Now), Page 18 Spring 2018 Edition. Topic: Low Back & Sciatica

  • Guest Yoga Instructor at the MDPAC (Medical Psychotherapy Association Canada) annual weekend retreat with Dr. Shari Geller, Ph.D., C. Psych, Geneva Park, Orillia (2017)

  • Featured Practitioner in On The Bay Magazine - How to Cope with Pain? Read Now

  • Published article in The Escarpment Magazine - A Yogic Perspective on Managing Pain Read Now

  • Newspaper interview for The Meaford Express Read Now

  • Podcast Interview on The Connected Yoga Teachers Podcast. Topic: Sciatica Listen Now

  • Guest Yoga Instructor on behalf of  South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre, Wasaga Beach

  • Host on Rogers TV - Developed and hosted 13 televised classes called Yoga for Sore Bodies in 2013

  • Sciatic Pain Workshop - Developed an effective approach to heal Sciatic Pain. Read More

  • Author - In 2013 I wrote an illustrated manual called Stop Sciatic Pain that is now selling worldwide on Amazon and kindle. Purchase on Amazon

  • Developed a mindfulness course for anxiety, worry & pain -  Read More

  • Featured in The Journal Argus. Read Article

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