Get To Know Joan

I am an accomplished and experienced advocate for public health problem prevention and holistic living. I aim to radiate a sense of calmness and serenity and those traits, along with my intuitive and empathic gifts, help create a space for others to transform and heal.

My early career spanned 30 years working for the federal government developing and managing substance use disorder (SUD) prevention programs with a special focus on at-risk populations, impaired driving, and promoting alcohol policy strategies. My award-winning programs often were recognized and promoted by the White House and numerous national organizations, and I personally received many accolades.

Joan has over 800 hours of yoga training, including trauma-informed yoga, yoga and grief, yoga and addiction, and meditation and breath control techniques. Yoga was my lifesaver after a traumatic brain injury in 2000 and helped me on a long path of recovery.

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Positive Attitude

I have navigated successfully a life filled with many transitions, losses, and traumas and have a font of wisdom and experience to share.

WHERE HEALING DWELLS

Discover A Renewed Sense

Of Peace and Well-being

What Can I Offer You?

As much as I loved my career, it was very stressful, managing a large multicultural staff, an $11 M budget, and serving in many capacities for the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. I was literally an “accident waiting to happen”. And, sure enough, I had a fall at work that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, among other injuries, and ended my career.

I spent many years relying on western medicine-that almost killed me with their treatment regimen. Fortunately, a stay at Johns Hopkins correctly diagnosed my issue and thereafter I began the process of healing that took numerous years. I turned to energy medicine — found yoga, reflexology, and clinical hypnotherapy and have been a proponent of these practices for over 12 years. Energy healing also helped me recover from numerous traumas I’ve experienced since childhood. These “alternative” healing modalities gradually grew into a passion that I wanted to share with others. In looking back at the challenges I’ve navigated and overcome, I know that my life’s path resulted in integrating my knowledge, experience, and wisdom to help others find their healing and recovery path emanating from their heart.

I’ve found that when I step out of and silence my ego’s constant chatter and rely on my heart, I am rewarded in ways that I could not have imagined.

As a life-long learner, over that past 12 years, I’ve become certified in several healing modalities. As a Yoga Teacher I now have over 800 hours of training, including trauma informed, yoga and addiction, yoga and grief, restorative. and aerial. Other certifications include Sound Therapy, Reiki Usui Master, a Transformation Life Coach, Meditation Teacher, and Grief Movement Guide.

I love facilitating support groups and for the past 40 years, have run them for those dealing with divorce, separation, death, caregiver’s whose loved ones have dementia, and those in recovery from SUD. The practice of yoga on and off the mat (the 8-fold path), has been an important part of recovery from my own SUD and I passionately share mindfulness, pranayama (breath control), and meditation techniques with others.

My other joys include my grandchildren, traveling, and quilting. My daily mantra is: “release the past, plan for tomorrow, and live for today”. At my age, I love to inspire others to age gracefully and with vigor and know that I’m now living the best part of the rest of this life!

 

  • Certified Restorative Aerial Teacher, “Flow and Fly” – 2022
  • Certified RYT-200 and RYT-300,
  • Thrive Yoga Studio – 2021
  • Certified RYT-200, Yogamour Yoga and Healing Arts Studio – 2021
  • Certified Trauma Sensitive Yoga
  • Teacher, Yogamour Yoga and Healing Arts Studio –
    80 hours – 2021 and 2022
  • Certified Usui Reiki Master, Thrive Yoga Studio – 2019
  • Certified Facilitator, Alzheimer’s Assoc, Hospice of Frederick County,
  • Separated and Divorced Catholics 1978-2015
  • Certified Sound Healing Practitioner, Sound Immersion Levels 1, 2, and 3 – 2020-2022
  • Transformation Life Coach Certification, Life Coach Institute –
  • ICF-certified – 2014
  • M.A., Human Development
  • Education, U. of MD (Specialty was Child and Adolescent Development) 1988