Joni Watling ~ Minneapolis
Module 1 Certified Teacher
Email: joni@ipsalumn.org
website: http://www.ipsalumn.org
Joni Watling, BS, MOT, OTR/L is a licensed occupational therapist with an emphasis in Mental Health. She is a member of the Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA), International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) graduate.
Thrust onto stage at the ripe age of five, donned in a flower costume to sing Edelweiss in a church pageant, Joni doesn’t quite remember when her life has not involved singing, performing or writing in some capacity. From choirs, community theater, singing telegrams, recording studios and a variety of bands ranging in style from rockabilly, to country, to acoustic and pop, Joni’s shared the stage in groups opening for acts such as The Georgia Satellites, The Producers, Jefferson Starship, 10,000 Maniacs, Collective Soul, Matthew Sweet and Jennifer Nettles.
Joni began experimenting with yoga in the 1980s while living in Southern California with the goal of eventually – one day – teaching. She was introduced to Ipsalu in 2005; “It felt like coming home to something I’d always known, but temporarily forgotten.”
In fall 2014, she completed Module 1 Training for becoming a Level 1 Apprentice Teacher and began a conversation with Ipsalu founder Bodhi Avinasha to resurrect The Power of Voice. The opportunity to educate others through playing with sound, voice and movement was a dream come true!
As a facilitator, Joni therapeutically merges art, science, sense of adventure and energy of compassion to create a safe, fun environment that encourages experimentation, healing and empowerment.