my approach to personal training and embodiment
I have struggled personally in traditional gym settings with the talk about food, numbers, body and gendered assumptions. In my work, I hope to dismantle some of these harmful ways of engaging in “fitness,” and offer people a safe place to get stronger and more in touch with their bodies.
I offer an integrated approach to training that takes your personal history into account. I work with my clients to reframe their relationships to movement, their bodies, and their individual capacities and limits. My goal is to see clients access a greater level of ease in their bodies and find pleasure in moving, learning and growing as embodied individuals.
I draw on my diverse background in dance, somatic + alignment-based practices, yoga, acrobatics and strength training to intuitively formulate appropriate (and exciting!) programs for my clients that meet you where you are. Whether your desire is to be pushed harder than you feel you can push yourself , or if you are needing gentleness and grounding (or both!), we will collaborate on an approach that feels good to you in your body.
what a session might look like:
STRENGTH TRAINING + STABILIZATION
Starting from the core and glute muscles as the center of your support system, we will work through the body in an integrated and dynamic way - allowing you to ground and find your strength from an aligned place. This may include a combination of yoga, weight-lifting and movements using your own bodyweight.
PAIN RELIEF + MOBILITY WORK
I will guide you through various myofascial release strategies [like foam-rolling and self-massage] as well as safe and aligned stretches as ways of managing chronic pain and finding greater access and aliveness in your body.
BREATHING + EMBODIMENT PRACTICES
We will start or end each session with different breathing techniques to reset the nervous system and activate essential core muscles for movement. There will also be a component of mindfulness throughout as well as visualizations and guided meditation using the body as a focal point.
FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT + INJURY PREVENTION
We will work on strengthening for movements that you do in your day-to-day life and work - finding aligned and supportive alternatives to habitual movement patterns that result in pain or dysfunction.
client testimonials
“Since enduring a serious illness in my late twenties, I have struggled to find a place for myself in the world of working out. Newly frail, I found the culture of group fitness classes competitive and alienating, and going to the gym on my own was daunting and largely ineffective. I felt increasingly resigned to a new reality—living in a body that just didn't work a lot of the time—when I met and began training one on one with Jo, at first in person and now, since the pandemic began, over Zoom. Drawing on a vast knowledge of the architecture of the human body, they bring a compassionate, intuitive, and often quite creative approach to helping me build strength, flexibility and balance. I'm stronger and more physically able than I was before I got sick, and very grateful to have found a trainer who brings none of the toxicity of fitness culture to our sessions. They have made a huge difference in my life.” - Julia
“Jo isn't the first trainer I've worked with, but they're certainly the best. I don't identify as an "exercise person," but Jo has helped to reshape my relationship with fitness. When I first started training with Joanna, I was several months postpartum. I wanted to rebuild core strength and feel more confident in my own skin. Jo helped me do that and then some. They even managed to keep my sessions challenging once we went virtual after the pandemic hit. But most importantly, Jo created a safe, encouraging, and emotionally supportive space in which I could thrive. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually *enjoy* working out with Jo. I'd recommend them to anyone.” - Rachel
“Jo's considerate and collaborative approach to tailoring a supportive program improved my well-being through intense chronic illness. We worked to restore my body from the atrophy of prolonged bed rest. Their strategy was attentive and caring. It achieved what my doctors or other practitioners could not: the creation of a routine in movement gentle enough to avoid post-exertional malaise (PEM), a tricky symptom and setback when dealing with fatigue-related illness. Mindful and patient, we made progress in strength through weekly sessions. We worked with small movements, and with expertly integrated breathwork and visualization. The work we did together was pivotal to restoring quality of life.” - Holly
my rates
I work on a sliding scale in order to accommodate a range of financial experiences. I reserve a certain number of pay-what-you-can slots for QTBIPOC individuals. If cost is prohibitive, but you feel that working with me could be beneficial to you, please don’t hesitate to reach out :)
Please reference the amazing graphic by Worts and Cunning Apothecary to place yourself on the scale. If you are white, cis or have access to resources, please be mindful of how you place yourself.
Virtual Sessions
$65-115
In-Person Sessions
$75-$150
