Hi, I'm CW.

You may also hear people call me Christi—but either way, I'm so glad you're here.

Welcome to The JOY of Yoga & Wellness.

A Journey of Curiosity, Compassion, and Connection

Over 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.

Looking back, I'm grateful I didn't let the belief that I was "too late" keep me from beginning. That experience continues to shape the way I teach today: with patience, curiosity, and the belief that every body deserves to be met with compassion.

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 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 introduced to the healing practice of Reiki. The sense of peace and spaciousness I experienced was unlike anything I had known before, and it transformed the way I understood healing—not as something we strive for, but something we create space to receive.

From that point forward, my vision became clear.

I didn't want to simply teach yoga.

I wanted to create a place 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.

Today, that vision lives through The JOY of Yoga & Wellness—a welcoming space where people come to move, rest, learn, heal, laugh, and reconnect with themselves and one another. My hope is that every person who walks through the door feels seen, supported, and welcomed exactly as they are.

How I Teach

I believe yoga and healing practices should meet people where they are.

Whether we're practicing yoga, exploring myofascial release, experiencing Reiki, or simply taking a mindful breath together, my intention is always the same: to create a space where you can listen to your body with curiosity instead of judgment.

My teaching is rooted in anatomy and movement intelligence, nervous system awareness, subtle body wisdom, and a deep respect for 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, perfection, or performance.

Kind Words from Our Community

" CW is one of my favorite yoga teachers on the planet! She brings both a deep understanding of energy and movement to her classes as well as pure JOY, always reminding us to not take ourselves too seriously. As a yoga teacher myself, I can't recommend her highly enough!"

" I have been practicing yoga for several years, and have had many different instructors. I am so grateful to have found Christi! Her knowledge of yoga and supportive approach are wonderful. Her attention to the full yoga experience (physical, emotional, and spiritual) produces a positive, safe, and inviting energy to her practice. It is definitely not a one size fits all experience. I believe everyone feels safe and welcomed as she stresses that we are all made differently and should tailor our practices accordingly. Her humor is definitely an added bonus!!"

Credentials & Training

Christina Anne Willingham (CW) is a Reiki® Master Teacher, Animal Reiki Practitioner, E-RYT 500, YACEP, and Roll Model® Method Practitioner.

Her training includes Holy Fire® III World Peace Karuna Reiki®, Animal Reiki, Yoga Nidra, Guided Myofascial Release, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Gentle and Chair Yoga, Comparative Anatomy, Subtle Body Studies, and Compassionate Transitions Support for Humans and Animals.

Christina is deeply committed to lifelong learning and continues to study with respected teachers in yoga, movement, anatomy, mindfulness, and energy healing. Her goal is to offer classes, trainings, and mentorships that are thoughtful, accessible, and grounded in both experience and evidence-informed practice.

She considers it a profound honor to hold space for each student and to witness the courage it takes to begin, to return, to grow, and to simply be present.

Whether you're stepping onto a yoga mat for the first time, returning after years away, or simply longing for a place where you can breathe a little easier, you're welcome here.