Our Community
Founder & Yoga Instructor
Joanna Cooper
Passion for yoga.
Love of yoga.
For the past 15 years yoga has been a foundational and vital part of Joanna’s life. Helpful in virtually all aspects of life; she has witnessed first-hand its profound physical, mental, and emotional benefits.
Joanna felt deeply compelled to create a space of healing and health for all. Her hope was to help others who find themselves struggling, and provide a safe space for self-care and nurturing. As her inspiration bloomed, she envisioned a collaborative studio, where instructors from diverse modalities could be empowered to grow and share their offerings with community.
Finally, in 2021 Joanna opened the doors to Joshua Tree Studio & Spa. Offering a space to the Alpena community and beyond founded in the spirit health, healing, and peace; welcoming all. In harmony with this growth, Joanna joined the Light Guardians Yoga school to fine-tune and share her personal practice at Joshua Tree.
Here are just a few of classes Joanna will be personally offering:
True Colors series for teen girls
Pre-Natal Yoga
Hot Yoga
Restorative Yoga with Sound
Now in full stride, Joshua Tree continues to grow from the seeds of Joanna’s vision. Offering barre, men’s yoga, sound baths, Qigong, groove, a Himalayan salt room, and more.
Join us!
Qigong & Yoga Teacher
Gay Fry
Gay Fry followed up her 30-year career as an international flight attendant with teaching and working in the healing arts field for over 25 years.
Her passion for healing led her to become a Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) in California. Gay taught many healing arts modalities including Yoga teacher training, Reiki, and massage. As a Doula she helped over 200 women with childbirth.
Gay is a Labyrinth facilitator and continues to garner positive feedback on her book “111 Ways to Let Go of Painful Relationships”. Her clients like the fact that she always has new healing information and modalities to share with them.
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Always looking for something that heals, she discovered Qigong. She has been teaching all ages from 3 to 83 instilling the idea of peace and calm. The slow movements in Qigong give mind and body a chance to release the worry and stress while stimulating meridians and pressure points. Therefore, the parasympathetic nervous system is turned on and the healing begins.
Barre Teacher
Michelle Hillert
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YTT 500 yoga, instructor, and Sound Bath, and guided meditation certified.
Tracy Boyle
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Yoga & Pilates Teacher
Sarah Light
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Yoga Teacher & Reiki Practitioner
Lindsey Randall
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Taiji Instructor & reWilding Mentor/Educator
Julie Gandulla
Since the age of 13 Julie has been a student of various hard style martial arts, including Kenpo, Taekwondo, Karate, and Mixed Martial Arts. It has been in studying Taiji that Julie enjoys a truly holistic practice of moving meditation. Blending soft style martial movements with breathwork and Taoism, Taiji has become one of the great loves of her life and one that she enjoys sharing with others.
In addition to a Taiji instructor, Julie is an author, philosopher, writer, and reWild mentor and educator. In reWilding, Julie works with individuals and groups to reframe and rehabilitate life-styles and awareness, moving from living in disconnect to living in connection. Guiding students into deep listening to body, mind, and spirit; and ultimately reclaiming living from original Chi, living in authenticity.
200 hours Balanced Body instructor training for Pilates, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, achieving her Reiki Master attunement as well as other mindfulness practices.
Kelly Hunter
In recent years Kelly has found real purpose in helping people to live well in their body.
Her experience includes a personal Yoga practice, over 200 hours Balanced Body instructor training for Pilates, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, achieving her Reiki Master attunement as well as other mindfulness practices.
She is constantly learning new methods to heal and grow; mind, body and soul. Kelly has a desire to share her light and help others to recognize their own power, potential and divine spark.
Yoga, Mobility & Longevity Practioner
Punky Mahle Simpson
I am passionate about all types of movement and here to guide you on your wellness and longevity journey.
In my classes I incorporate mobility and strength with traditional yogic breath work, mindfulness and asanas. I am a huge proponent of progress, not perfection so that we can take what we discovery and learn about ourselves on the mat, into our every day, busy lives.
Mobility as my ethos allows me to create a dynamic and supportive environment for all, whether you're a life long yogini or brand new to the practice allowing you to easily find more joy in your health journey. When I am not guiding movement classes, you will find me in the garden or painting (watercolor is my preferred medium). Finding beauty in the everyday helps me to maintain a balance between helping others in my community and leading classes from Restorative to Vinyasa and everything in between.
Hatha Vinyasa Yoga Instructor
Taylor Lino
The style that I love to teach is Hatha Vinyasa yoga flow. I love to find balance between the feminine and masculine, sun and moon, the Yin and Yang. I will be teaching the asanas while tuning into the energetic body, the highest aspect of self. I am a stickler for correct alignment and intention. ✨
My yoga journey began in Fall of 2020. Gaining bits of wisdom and awakening through my soul family. Summer of 2018, I planted my roots in Alpena from a small town in, South Georgia. My story begins when I was 14 years old, struggling with mental health. I lost so much, and myself in that time. Medications after medications, doctors after doctors. My family has called me a healer, as they helped me overcome that darkness. It is second nature for me to assist others when the mental load can be loud. We all need a safe space to find peace, grace and authenticity.
During my academic career with Alpena Community College, initially I planned to become an RN. Through that time, I gained medical experience in working as a CNA for 5 years. I decided to change my path to holistic healing, after enduring mental stress, and maintaining my academic career. I am an ACC alumni, with an associates degree in the General Sciences. I joined Light Guardians School of Yoga to gain knowledge in how to grow with the flow in the physical, emotional and spiritual body, on and off the mat. I have a passion for health science and holistic healing. As my roots have grown, I have found peace in what I practice, and have a passion of sharing with others. It is vitally important for me to share this knowledge and light.
I am always seeking wherever the light leads me to. I welcome the paths to peace and healing. ✨
Wherever your intention goes, your energy grows. 🌿
Life Coach/ Meditation Instructor
Erik Peterson
Life poet, mind mystic, paradigm shapeshifter, foundational cultural community challenger, internal seeker, external adventurer, entrepreneur, master life coach, human potential enthusiast, nature conservationist, evolutionary motivator, life loving spiritual being enjoying the human experience.
Yoga & Sound Bath Instructor
Taryn Bates
Yoga & Sound Bath Teacher