When you hear the word fitness what comes to mind?  For too many of us a negative image arises – one of boring, difficult or exhausting workouts that feel more like a chore than a way to create a happier, healthier life.  JoyFitness at Glen Ivy offers a way to change the way you think about being healthy and fit.  The JoyFitness Team believes that living a healthy, fit life can – and should – be joyful, meaningful and fun.  We stand for fitness classes that are effective and help you to meet your goals, but still leave you smiling.  We accept as true that fitness should fit your lifestyle, your body type, your schedule and, most importantly, what you find enjoyable.  Our class offerings encompass a holistic approach to wellness:  body, mind and spirit.  From Aqua Fit to Tai Chi to yoga, gardening, art or meditation, our instructors strive to support you in creating an experience that enriches your life and makes you feel good about stretching the boundaries of your mind and body. 

Meg Root

Meg has over 25 years experience as a fitness instructor and personal trainer in the spa industry. As a frequent contributor to Glen Ivy’s fitness blog, Meg finds joy in making fitness fun and accessible to everyone. Meg enjoys offering fitness and wellness tips that can easily be integrated in daily life. Her passion is to help each person find a path to fitness and wellness that is fun and helps to enhance their daily life. In Meg’s words, “I love watching people connect with how movement and exercise can be enjoyable, feel good, and have a positive impact on their wellbeing.”

Craig Phillips

Craig has been teaching Tai Chi, Qigong and the martial arts for over 11 years. He is an ordained Interfaith Minister, having graduated from The New Seminary in New York City. In the 30 years that Craig has been practicing and teaching meditation, he has found joy in exploring different paths and studying with a variety of teachers, including the Dalai Lama. Craig’s passion is to share the beneficial practice of Tai Chi and Qigong with others. He says, “The practice of Tai Chi and Qigong for me is like joy in motion. The fulfillment I receive in teaching others these ancient arts is watching them be able to let go of stress and become aware of the present moment, as they relax into their bodies. It is my deepest wish that every person who practices with me will be able to take at least one technique with them that will bring more peace, vitality, and joy into their lives.”

Shao Pen Wang

Shao Pen Wang began his career at the Beijing Dancing Institute where he studied ballet under Gusev Petz and others from the Kirov Ballet. Shao Pen moved on to be the principal dancer, teacher and choreographer for the National Ballet Company of China. In 1964, Shao Pen partnered with the world famous ballerina Beryl Grey. His passion for teaching ballet led him to the Virginia Ballet Theatre, where he served as the Artistic Director from 1979 to 1997. His talents as an instructor have been sought by the Joffrey Ballet Company, the Shanghai Ballet of China, the Ichiyanagi Ballet School in Osaka, Japan, and other schools throughout Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, Japan, and the United States. Shao Pen discovered Tai Chi after doctors told him he would not recover from a debilitating back injury. Upon receiving the diagnosis, Shao Pen returned to his native China to study with a Tai Chi Master. After fully recovering from the injury Shao Pen began teaching Tai Chi to his ballet students. He now finds joy in sharing the healing movements of Tai Chi with everyone.

Jenny Kao

Jenny Kao, a native of Taiwan, has practiced yoga, meditation and healing for many years. She is a KRI certified Kundalini Yoga instructor and a certified Gong healer. Her passion is teaching Kundalini Yoga, giving Gong Immersion sessions and bringing love, peace and light to the world. During her daily spiritual practice she enjoys meditating on the Sun which brings her happiness and joy. She enjoys how it connects her to her higher self and opens her heart. Jenny’s class focus on the use of the ancient science of Kundalini Yoga to release muscle tension, strengthen the immune & nervous system, create balance, and build inner peace within the body and mind. Jenny’s classes  lead her students on the path to joy through an energetic yoga set, work with various breath and movement, healing sound current, savasana (Gong relaxation) and meditation.

Rachel Baker

A Cloud Nine Yoga graduate, Rachel has been teaching Hatha yoga since 2008. She is a passionate and playful teacher and believes in the body’s capability to heal itself through intentional movement. Rachel has experienced yoga’s therapeutic benefits firsthand and sees both the physical and mental practice of yoga as channels to change one’s life for the better. Her goal is to share the joy of yoga with each of her students and teach them how to better enjoy their bodies and calm their spirits.