Joy Ravelli started her business when she was 20 years old while pregnant with her first child, Nicholai. She dropped out of college where she had almost completed her Health Education degree and began to spend her time within the college by providing fitness, health, and nutrition coaching to the staff and students. Soon Joy was leading her "Health In Motion" programs at several colleges and corporations throughout Massachusetts. She had her second child, Alexander, at the age of 23. She ran this business successfully in Massachusetts for 20 years. In 1999 Joy took her life long passion for Yoga into the center of her offerings and in 2004 while pregnant with her third child, Maleeha she created the Purusha Yoga School. The Purusha Yoga School has graduated over 300 students in both 200 hour and 500 hour Yoga Alliance and International Association of Yoga Therapists Recognized programs.
Joy founded the Purusha Seva Project in 2008. The Purusha Seva Project became a 501C-3 Non-Profit organization in 2009. Joy says, "I wanted to create a vehicle..." (click here to continue reading about the Purusha Seva Project)
Joy completed writing a practical guide to the Yoga Sutras in 2009 and looks forward to it being published soon. She is currently writing other practical guides for her students to navigate their way through the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. "Writing helps me to understand these practices and has always been a way of expressing my deeper ideas and feelings."
Joy opened the Purusha Yoga Studio in San Francisco in 2011 as a way of providing opportunities for her teachers to share and grow while also nourishing a local community with a wide variety of classes, programs, and a place to gather and celebrate together.
The true spark of light that ignited the studio was the death of her son Alex in 2009.
"Alex has always been a source of great inspiration and guidance in this life. He continues to help me and our community understand the truth that is beyond our small perspective and seek the light and love of an existence without fear, hatred, and worry. Ultimately- my children have and always will be my greatest teachers, for they have taught me to let go of fear and let it all be love."
This is the true path of yoga: to let go of our head trip and connect to what is real. In the end there is only love.
Joy is certified in the following modalities:
- Personal Trainer (ACE, AFFA)
- Pilates (Physical Mind Institute)
- Yoga (Frog Pond School, RYT 500 Yoga Alliance)
- Thai Yoga Bodywork (Sunset Network, Thailand)
