Winnipeg Free Press Feature: Holt looking to extend her wellness reach
As featured on: Holt looking to extend her wellness reach – Our Communities
Joanne Holt believes a little wellness goes a long way.
Holt — who lives in St. Vital and grew up in Windsor Park — has been a personal trainer and exercise instructor for the last 14 years, working with individuals in their homes and generally focusing on exercise programs, or block therapy programs and in some cases both.
Block therapy is a pain management program founded by certified athletic therapist Deanna Hansen and is described as a bodywork practice that is a combination of meditation, exercise and therapy.
“I specialize in working with women over the age of 40,” Holt said, adding many of her clients have fibromyalgia, autoimmune issues, chronic fatigue or are cancer survivors.
“The reason for that is because I myself had a chronic repetitive strain injury in 2002 that caused me to leave a longstanding job to pursue a career in the health and wellness field.”
And now, Holt — who is the owner of JMH Wellness — is reaching out to a wider portion of the community and targeting a larger cross-section of individuals who may be suffering from a variety of ailments and illnesses. She notes that privacy is an issue for some of her clients, so she has “a home studio gym set up for people over the age of 40 with various diseases that might not be ready for a gym or classes.”
“My hope is to find people with chronic pain issues, digestive issues, people living with anxiety due to improper breathing and anyone that wants to try something new. Anyone that can get down to floor level can do this simple, safe, effective program,” she said, adding homebound individuals can also do the program effectively “on a bed with proper instruction.”
“I have had a home gym now for 12 years that is fully equipped with dumbbells, weight training machines, balls, bands, a treadmill, and spin bike for people to use. In some cases, privacy is an issue, especially if that person is dealing with a longstanding chronic illness.
“People feel safe around me knowing I have had my own share of health issues, including cancer and chronic fatigue. I bring a non-judgmental form of support in a very safe environment.”
Not one to rest on her laurels, Holt is currently teaching a 55-plus block therapy class at Archwood Community Centre, and she will soon be teaching a five-week run of block therapy classes at Vista Place Physiotherapy in St. Vital. The first class is set for Nov. 1. As well, she will be teaching block therapy classes beginning in January 2019, run through the City of Winnipeg’s Leisure Guide, at H. S. Paul School (160 Southglen Blvd.).
Go online at jmhwellness.com for more information.
Simon Fuller
Community Journalist
Simon Fuller is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at simon.fuller@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7111.
