Jo Bakal has a mission to bring kindness and compassion to the world by serving women, seniors, and animals with a growing tapestry of wellness services.
She is passionate about making each client feel that they are in collaborative caring hands whether meeting in person or virtually.
Jo helps those who juggle life's demands, allowing them to see the value of being number one, living healthily, liking whom they see in the mirror, and releasing what no longer serves them, so their true potential can emerge. Jo recognizes the uniqueness of each person and that no single solution works for everyone.
Jo is a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBCHWC), Certified Cancer Coach, Natural Foods Chef, author, licensed massage therapist, Qigong & Reiki Instructor. In massage, special training and certifications include Senior massage, Canine massage, and Oncology Massage for people who are living with or have survived cancer.
Years of project management experience, coupled with her healing journey, and wellness work and training are the key to her ability to partner with you on your journey.
On the personal side…Jo lives in Tampa, Florida, with hubby Walter nee Zev, her amazing dogs Lyla and Lucy Lou, and two fantastic cats, Lara and Lua. In addition, Jo has three adult children (David, Sasha married to Chaya, and Katya) in various parts of the world. When they are all in the same city, it brings her tremendous joy to cook and share family meals.
When Jo isn't working, she volunteers time providing massage and reiki to animal rescues, practicing qigong, reading, drawing, or playing with food to create delicious plant-based recipes. Jo's book From My Table to Yours is available on Amazon.com. Jo's current project is opening a wellness B&B retreat and retirement home for senior dogs.
Work with Jo to identify what it means to YOU to live YOUR best life and then collaborate on clearing the path, step by step, to achieve your vision.
Jo’s approach to coaching is to stand by your side as you take the lead on your wellness journey. She acts as your partner, providing a safe space to go through a creative thought provoking process that helps to identify and pursue the paths needed to reach your goals, empowering you to enhance your holistic well-being.
As a licensed massage therapist in the state of Florida Jo specializes in massage for seniors, cancer patients and survivors, dogs and other small animals, as well as others who feel the need for a healing therapeutic massage. Jo’s late twin sister Amy was the inspiration behind her becoming a Reiki Practitioner and Teacher. This lead to Jo becoming a massage therapist which is required in Florida to practice Reiki professionally. She ended up falling in love with muscles and massage, and solidifying the populations she wanted to serve: animals, the elderly, and cancer patients.
Her article detailing her first experience as a massage therapist during COVID-19 was published by the Institute for Integrative Healthcare: Beginning My Massage Career During a Pandemic.
As a Reiki Practitioner/Instructor and Qigong instructor Jo has been working with energy for more than 25 years starting as a Tai Chi and Qigong. With these practices she can show you how to improve balance and flexibility, reduce stress, feel relaxed, have more energy, and just feel all-around good.
As a Natural Food Chef Jo can teach you how to create vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian foods that are filled with flavor while free of refined and artificial sweeteners, dairy, meat, and gluten. Jo can show you how to transform your favorite foods to a healthier delicious version – chocolate cake included! Depending on where you are located, she can provide personal chef services in the comfort of your home. Jo has written and published a book Real Food From My Table to Yours to assist you in bringing delicious yet healthy foods to you. Contact her to learn more about her Culinary Connections Program too.
Let Jo know how she can serve you with your wellness vision. To set up a confidential no obligation conversation call 917.439.1623 or email wellnessjourney@tezoona.com