Joy Fay
Joy Fay owns and operates Joy Yoga and Melrose boot Camp and is an enthusiastic and highly-motivated fitness trainer and youth yoga instructor with reiki 2 attunement. Joy has a degree in early childhood education and has taught in a variety of educational settings. Her special interests are fitness, nutrition, mindfulness and art. Joy ran her 15th marathon in Boston in 2015 which further reinforces her belief that anything is possible! She knows first-hand the struggles of those living with weight management challenges and is passionate about helping both children and adults live lives filled with physical activity, nutritional awareness and community connection.
Joy can be reached at joy@melrosebootcamp.com
Joy Fay owns and operates Joy Yoga and Melrose boot Camp and is an enthusiastic and highly-motivated fitness trainer and youth yoga instructor with reiki 2 attunement. Joy has a degree in early childhood education and has taught in a variety of educational settings. Her special interests are fitness, nutrition, mindfulness and art. Joy ran her 15th marathon in Boston in 2015 which further reinforces her belief that anything is possible! She knows first-hand the struggles of those living with weight management challenges and is passionate about helping both children and adults live lives filled with physical activity, nutritional awareness and community connection.
Joy can be reached at joy@melrosebootcamp.com
Michelle Heron
Michelle is a Registered Nurse, Reiki master, and Yoga teacher. She obtained her yoga teaching certification in 2005 at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA. Her special trainings include Mindfulness Meditation, Yin Yoga, Children’s Yoga, Pre and Postnatal Yoga. With over 2700 teaching hours, she has fine tuned her teaching style with a Slow Flow yoga class that brings the element of time and space between transitions. Michelle guides a peaceful and gentle approach to body alignment and breath awareness connecting the mind to the present moment. She weaves in the element of longer held Yin Yoga poses to increase the mobility of joints and balance the body’s energetic flow.
Michelle is a Registered Nurse, Reiki master, and Yoga teacher. She obtained her yoga teaching certification in 2005 at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA. Her special trainings include Mindfulness Meditation, Yin Yoga, Children’s Yoga, Pre and Postnatal Yoga. With over 2700 teaching hours, she has fine tuned her teaching style with a Slow Flow yoga class that brings the element of time and space between transitions. Michelle guides a peaceful and gentle approach to body alignment and breath awareness connecting the mind to the present moment. She weaves in the element of longer held Yin Yoga poses to increase the mobility of joints and balance the body’s energetic flow.
Roxanne Kelly
Roxanne took her first yoga class in 2006 and has been in love with yoga ever since. Roxanne completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2015 at the Kripalu Yoga Center in Lenox, MA. Roxanne’s style of teaching offers challenging sequences, at a slower pace, allowing the student to dive deeper and find the meditative quality in the flow. As a teacher, Roxanne aspires to create a positive and encouraging space for all students to explore their own practice. Roxanne lives in Wakefield with her husband and two cats.
Rachel Gooze
Rachel has been exploring yoga for over 20 years. Over time she deepened her study and this learning process continues to support self-discovery and a desire to share the practices with young children and caregivers. Rachel completed a 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training in 2013 and is certified by ChildLight Yoga in Yoga and Mindfulness for Children and Babies. During pregnancy, Rachel continued her regular mindful movement practice and breathing and moving with her children is a constant source of joy and discovery. This, in combination with her work as a public health researcher studying the well-being of early childhood educators, motivates her to bring wellness practices to caregivers (parents and teachers), babies, and children.
Rachel Appleman
Rachel received her 200hr Yoga Teacher certification from Zen Den Yoga School in Boca Raton, Florida in 2019, and received her Level 1 Yin certification at the same time. She has been practicing yoga since she was a kid, and found love in the meditation of yogic movement - linking breath to movement and movement to breath. Her style of teaching ranges from challenging vinyasa flows to slow flow yin sequences, and has the tendency to mix a little of both into her classes. In her free time, Rachel is a website and marketing consultant in the Boston area, and an artist. You can check out her journey on Instagram @appleman_awakening
Jill Koontz
Jill is the newest addition to our Joy Yoga team! Jill has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the fitness and wellness industries. She is a certified yoga teacher for both adults and children and successfully owned and operated 3 Bikram yoga studios in Boston for many years. Jill is currently seeking her 500- hour pilates certification while holding a certification in Inferno Hot Pilates, the class which she will be sharing with us at Joy Yoga come March 2020! Welcome Jill!
Roxanne took her first yoga class in 2006 and has been in love with yoga ever since. Roxanne completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2015 at the Kripalu Yoga Center in Lenox, MA. Roxanne’s style of teaching offers challenging sequences, at a slower pace, allowing the student to dive deeper and find the meditative quality in the flow. As a teacher, Roxanne aspires to create a positive and encouraging space for all students to explore their own practice. Roxanne lives in Wakefield with her husband and two cats.
Rachel Gooze
Rachel has been exploring yoga for over 20 years. Over time she deepened her study and this learning process continues to support self-discovery and a desire to share the practices with young children and caregivers. Rachel completed a 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training in 2013 and is certified by ChildLight Yoga in Yoga and Mindfulness for Children and Babies. During pregnancy, Rachel continued her regular mindful movement practice and breathing and moving with her children is a constant source of joy and discovery. This, in combination with her work as a public health researcher studying the well-being of early childhood educators, motivates her to bring wellness practices to caregivers (parents and teachers), babies, and children.
Rachel Appleman
Rachel received her 200hr Yoga Teacher certification from Zen Den Yoga School in Boca Raton, Florida in 2019, and received her Level 1 Yin certification at the same time. She has been practicing yoga since she was a kid, and found love in the meditation of yogic movement - linking breath to movement and movement to breath. Her style of teaching ranges from challenging vinyasa flows to slow flow yin sequences, and has the tendency to mix a little of both into her classes. In her free time, Rachel is a website and marketing consultant in the Boston area, and an artist. You can check out her journey on Instagram @appleman_awakening
Jill Koontz
Jill is the newest addition to our Joy Yoga team! Jill has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the fitness and wellness industries. She is a certified yoga teacher for both adults and children and successfully owned and operated 3 Bikram yoga studios in Boston for many years. Jill is currently seeking her 500- hour pilates certification while holding a certification in Inferno Hot Pilates, the class which she will be sharing with us at Joy Yoga come March 2020! Welcome Jill!
Guest Teachers, Trainers & Practitioners
Linda Sheehan
Linda sheehan has been a student of nutrition and wellness for her entire life, whether through formal study, independent research or life experience. Over the years, she has researched and practiced different nutritional theories, but it was through the lens of motherhood that her passion for a clean, natural approach to both diet and lifestyle truly took shape. After having children, she realized the magnitude of the choices she was making for herself and her family, and how those choices would impact not only our individual health and wellbeing, but also the sustainability of the planet. Linda is passionate about educating and inspiring others to take charge of their health and make mindful choices about how to nourish themselves and their families. Linda has a B.A. in Health Psychology and is Food Management and Safety Certified. Linda is also certified in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University. Currently Linda is the Market Coordinator for the Melrose Farmers' Market. Linda is excited to join the teaching team at Joy yoga as she grows her plant-based in-home cooking business for families in and around Melrose, Ma.
Vanessa Roman
Vanessa began her yoga practice in 2010 in Argentina, learning very quickly the Spanish word for shoulders and hips. Upon returning home she completed her 200 hour teacher training at Back Bay Yoga Studio with Kate Greer and Lynne Begier, transforming her life and her perceptions of herself. Since then she has been teaching yoga to adults and children alike, completing a 20 hour children's yoga teacher training with Checka Antifonario at Radiant Child Yoga along the way. When she's not in baddha konasana, Vanessa works at the Acera School in Winchester where she teaches sex ed, theatre and the occasional downdog. She believes yoga can provide immense healing and well-being and is excited to help students find their way with this ancient practice!
Linda sheehan has been a student of nutrition and wellness for her entire life, whether through formal study, independent research or life experience. Over the years, she has researched and practiced different nutritional theories, but it was through the lens of motherhood that her passion for a clean, natural approach to both diet and lifestyle truly took shape. After having children, she realized the magnitude of the choices she was making for herself and her family, and how those choices would impact not only our individual health and wellbeing, but also the sustainability of the planet. Linda is passionate about educating and inspiring others to take charge of their health and make mindful choices about how to nourish themselves and their families. Linda has a B.A. in Health Psychology and is Food Management and Safety Certified. Linda is also certified in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University. Currently Linda is the Market Coordinator for the Melrose Farmers' Market. Linda is excited to join the teaching team at Joy yoga as she grows her plant-based in-home cooking business for families in and around Melrose, Ma.
Vanessa Roman
Vanessa began her yoga practice in 2010 in Argentina, learning very quickly the Spanish word for shoulders and hips. Upon returning home she completed her 200 hour teacher training at Back Bay Yoga Studio with Kate Greer and Lynne Begier, transforming her life and her perceptions of herself. Since then she has been teaching yoga to adults and children alike, completing a 20 hour children's yoga teacher training with Checka Antifonario at Radiant Child Yoga along the way. When she's not in baddha konasana, Vanessa works at the Acera School in Winchester where she teaches sex ed, theatre and the occasional downdog. She believes yoga can provide immense healing and well-being and is excited to help students find their way with this ancient practice!
Karen Gabler
Karen developed the Sustainable Body program as a culmination of thirty years in bodywork practice and study. Originally trained as a massage therapist at the New England Institute of Massage (Cambridge, MA), Karen developed a practice combining Zero Balancing, Structural Integration, and Movement Education. More recently she became certified in Fascial Fitness, a revolutionary approach for fostering a healthy, resilient fascial system. Sustainable Body synthesizes concepts from these modalities for a treatment and support program to help people access their true postural core and remodel more resilient connective tissue. Karen is excited to lead monthly workshops at Joy Yoga.
Karen developed the Sustainable Body program as a culmination of thirty years in bodywork practice and study. Originally trained as a massage therapist at the New England Institute of Massage (Cambridge, MA), Karen developed a practice combining Zero Balancing, Structural Integration, and Movement Education. More recently she became certified in Fascial Fitness, a revolutionary approach for fostering a healthy, resilient fascial system. Sustainable Body synthesizes concepts from these modalities for a treatment and support program to help people access their true postural core and remodel more resilient connective tissue. Karen is excited to lead monthly workshops at Joy Yoga.
Rebecca Longo
Rebecca is a nurse practitioner by trade but a passionate exerciser, mother, hiker and yogi by love. Twelve years ago Rebecca found Patricia Moreano's intenSati class when she was living in NYC. The class changed her outlook -and her life- through its teachings to align intentions with thoughts, emotions and actions. Upon relocating from NYC to Massachusetts Rebecca completed teacher training and continues to stay active in the intenSati community.
Rebecca is a nurse practitioner by trade but a passionate exerciser, mother, hiker and yogi by love. Twelve years ago Rebecca found Patricia Moreano's intenSati class when she was living in NYC. The class changed her outlook -and her life- through its teachings to align intentions with thoughts, emotions and actions. Upon relocating from NYC to Massachusetts Rebecca completed teacher training and continues to stay active in the intenSati community.