About CW
CW is Christina Anne Willingham, founder of The Joy of Yoga & Wellness
A Journey of Curiosity, Compassion, and Connection
Nearly twenty years ago, when I first stepped onto the path of yoga in my late 30s, I believed—quietly but firmly—that I was already too late.
Years of unexplained chronic pain had left me feeling disconnected from my body and uncertain about what it could do. Even the most basic beginner practices felt out of reach. Still, something inside me whispered that yoga might offer a doorway—if I could find the right one.
That doorway arrived in the form of a simple VHS chair yoga video: Rodney Yee’s Back Care Yoga. For nearly three years, I practiced the same 25‑minute sequence at home before ever setting foot in a studio. The changes were subtle, but they were real. I began to feel safer in my body, more aware of my thoughts, and more open to the possibility that healing didn’t have to be forceful or dramatic to be meaningful.
From Personal Practice to Purpose
A decade later, I enrolled in a 200‑hour yoga teacher training at Shine Yoga in Winchester, Virginia. The experience felt like coming home—and it awakened a clear calling to share these practices with others in a way that felt accessible, intelligent, and compassionate.
Around that same time, I was attuned to the healing energy of Reiki. The sense of peace and spaciousness I experienced was unlike anything I had known before, and it deeply informed how I understood healing—not as something we strive for, but something we allow.
From that point forward, my vision became clear.
I didn’t want to simply teach yoga.
I wanted to create spaces where people could feel safe enough to soften. Where they didn’t have to force their bodies into shapes that didn’t feel right. Where releasing long‑held beliefs about “doing it right” could be just as transformative as the physical practice itself.
How I Teach
My work is grounded in the belief that yoga and healing practices should meet people where they are.
I offer a light‑hearted, accessible approach rooted in:
anatomy and movement intelligence
nervous‑system awareness
subtle body wisdom
compassion, curiosity, and choice
Through embracing my own authentic self, I discovered my life’s work: supporting others as they reconnect with their bodies, cultivate self‑trust, and rediscover joy—without pressure or performance.
Credentials & Training
Christina Anne Willingham is a Holy Fire® III World Peace Karuna Reiki® Master Teacher, Animal Reiki Practitioner, E‑RYT 500, YACEP, and Roll Model® Method Practitioner.
Formal training includes:
Yoga Nidra, Vinyasa, Yin, Gentle, Restorative, and Chair Yoga
Comparative Anatomy, Self‑Myofascial Remodeling, and Subtle Body Studies
Compassionate Transitions Support for Humans and Animals
A lifelong student, Christina has studied with and drawn inspiration from many gifted teachers, including Caroline Felix, Joy Nagle, Marie‑Josée Drouin, Jill Miller, J Brown, Paul Grilley, Rod Stryker, Caroline Wybar, Tom Myers, Machelle Lee, Susi Hately, Alexandria Crow, Colleen Benelli, Robyn Benelli, Sioux Strong, and Mineca Wilson.
Mentorship & Continuing Education
Christina is deeply committed to offering classes and mentorships that are thoughtful, intelligent, and safe.
Her mentoring programs provide a nurturing, non‑hierarchical space for teachers, caregivers, and seekers of all kinds to build confidence, refine skills, and reconnect with purpose.
She considers it a profound honor to hold space for each student—encouraging authenticity, integrity, and compassion in both practice and life.