200-hr. Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance

(working toward 500-hr Yoga Training at Kripalu)


Board Certified by the
American Association of
Drugless Practitioners as
a Holistic Health Counselor


Certified Relax & Renew
Restorative Yoga Trainer


Over 160 hours of additional
yoga & meditation training


Over 700 hours of teaching experience


12 years of experience with yoga & meditation


B.A. in Communication

(Working on an MS in Counseling Psychology)

 

 

About Me

I was lucky growing up, my mom always made us eat our veggies. She cooked most everything from scratch, and she didn't allow too many sweets. When I left for college, I strayed from these healthy ways, ate more fast food and tons of sweets. I began to ignore my body and what I ate. Around this time and into my 20's, I increasingly became more stressed, angry, and worried. People said I was a "type-A personality." I was unhappy.

My transformation began with my first yoga class. Suddenly, I become aware of my body and how it felt - the tension in my shoulders, in my jaw. By the end of class, I had melted, softened, and I knew I needed this in my life. As I practiced yoga, I wanted my body to feel healthier overall, so I returned to what my mother had taught me. I started cooking, eating more vegetables and more whole foods in general. I read everything I could about yoga, nutrition and healthy eating. Slowly my body grew healthier and stronger.  A year later I took my first meditation workshop. I found that I could deepen my life experience even more by focusing inward, learning to let go, to breathe, to find connection from the inside out. I had a taste of peace, I connected with the joy that is within me, that's within each of us.

That was nearly 12 years ago. Since then, I continued my study of yoga and meditation, and more recently deepened my knowledge of nutrition by studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Also during this time, I became the mother of two energetic boys, who are now 10 and 7 years old. They inspire me to be the best person that I can be, which is one reason I created Healthy Body Peaceful Soul. I want to share my knowledge and experience with people like you - to help you learn how to reduce stress, take simple steps to shop healthier, prepare quick, nutritious meals, get to know your body through movement, find balance, and become a happier, healthier person.

We are all on this human journey, and we each have to find the right path to follow. I would be honored to help and support you on your journey to a healthy body and a peaceful soul. 

Joni has studied yoga and meditation with Max Strom, Judith Lasater, Doug Keller, Pema Chodron, and Krishna Das. Her 200 hour Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher Certification is from her studies with Joanne VandenHengel. Joni's education in health and nutrition has been both an independent exploration, as well as a formal experience through The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She learned from experts such as Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weil, M.D., David Wolfe, John Douillard, and many more. Joni has published articles on Examiner.com and on Elephantjournal.com, in addition to writing articles for her blog on healthybodypeacefulsoul.com. She is currently working on a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology at Chatham University and is working toward a 500 hour yoga teacher training program at Kripalu.