About Joanne
Hello, my name is Joanne.
I am a Canadian Yoga Alliance (CYA) certified E-RYT 500 and a CYA certified Aerial Yoga Teacher based in Vancouver, BC. I offer hatha-vinyasa style yoga, yin yoga, restorative yoga, aerial yoga, and therapeutic yoga in both in-person and online sessions.
I was trained by Rebekka Walker under the lineage of Kashmir Shaivism in an alignment-based teaching method and received my 200-hour and 300-hour designations in 2019 and 2020, respectively. I am currently training at the Vancouver School of Healing Art (VSOHA) for Yoga Therapy and am a candidate for IAYT-certified Yoga Therapist in 2027.
A little bit about myself and how I crossed path with yoga…
Yoga came into my life in my early years. I was first introduced to me in the physical education classes in high school, and just until few years ago I realized that I have been practicing yoga for more than 20 years. As a teenager, I was initially amazed by how yoga can transform and optimize physical performance. I enjoyed the fluidity and freedom in the body after doing yoga, and tried to share my experience with my family by creating home practice. Little did I know the seed of becoming a yoga instructor was planted since then.
In 2012, an accident caused injury on my right brachial plexus and led to severe paralysis on my right arm. In the beginning, I did not pay much attention to the accident nor some minor physical symptoms. I started to easily feel fatigue and weakening on my right hand and arm. Few months later, the symptom worsen to a point where my right arm was completely paralyzed. I spent months trying to figure out what was happening and then got diagnosed a right brachial plexus injury which leading to paralysis on my limb. I went through countless sessions of physiotherapy, acupuncture, and occupational therapy during that time. It was one of the hardest times physically and mentally for me. Despite the challenges, I recognize that it was a blessing in disguise years later. During those time, I found the therapeutic aspect of yoga and aerial yoga which helped me recover from the injury and retrieve confidence in myself. It further opened a door for me to pursue a career in yoga.
I have a background in veterinary medicine. Yet, life had a different plan for me. I was called to step out my vet career and go off the beaten path. Yoga came to me first very personal. As I dived deeper, I saw more how yoga is beneficial, therapeutic or even magical on my own well-being. That makes me want to share this powerful tool with more people. I truly believe that it is through cultivating a harmonious relationship with oneself one can ripple a sense of well-being into different facets in life. Ultimately, yoga shows us the way to living a fully embodied and joyful life.
Where you can find me
I teach and guide public yoga classes at local studios, workshops, yoga teacher training programs, and one-on-one sessions with a therapeutic application of yoga.
Aside from being a yoga teacher, I am also an avid traveler, photographer, foodie and writer. I currently live in the beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Side note, you can expect some gourmet coffee suggestions from me (wink wink). I love spending my spare time wondering in trails, relaxing by the ocean, enjoying cooking and eating, and of course, planning for my next adventure!
TRAINING
Yoga Therapist candidate upon completion of 800 Hour Yoga Therapy Program at VSOHA in 2027
300 Hour Foundation of Yoga Therapy at VSOHA, Vancouver, Canada, 2025
20 Hour Restorative Yoga Teacher Training with Prem Kaur, Coquitlam, Canada, 2022
55 Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Jolene Bayda, Coquitlam, Canada, 2021
300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Rebekka Walker, Briken, Canada, 2020
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Rebekka Walker, Pemberton, Canada, 2019
35 Hour Aerial Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Generation, Coquitlam, Canada, 2018
