Jo Bakal has a passion for facilitating wellness. She uses a nourishing toolbox that includes massage therapy, energy work with qigong and Reiki, health coaching, and leveraging her talents as a natural food chef to help you eat nourishing foods without losing taste.

Jo supports women 50+ who want to eat better, reduce stress, and minimize aches and pains to live more energetic, joyful, and healthier lives. She serves women who juggle the demands of life, by allowing them to see the value of being number one, maintaining a healthy life style, and liking who they see in the mirror.

Meeting health challenges and clearing obstacles toward wellness on a daily basis are what she does best. Years of project management experience coupled with her own healing journey, is the key to her ability to help you become your best self. Jo recognizes the uniqueness of each person and that no single program works for everyone.

Jo is a licensed massage therapist, NBCHWC National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, NTI Natural Foods Chef, and Reiki & Qigong Instructor. Additional certifications include PMP Project Manager, and CSM Scrum Master – both have influenced her ability as an effective wellness practitioner. She attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City and the Tyler School of Art in Rome as a visual artist. As a career woman, wife, and mother, she has transformed this creative energy into food alchemy, and is living her passion for facilitating wellness.

· As a licensed massage therapist in the state of Florida Jo specializes in massage for seniors as well as canine massage, and others who need 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 practitioner. 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.

· Coaching Jo’s approach 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 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.

Jo spent many years producing and project managing multimedia and online programs for the likes of Harper Collins, John Wiley & Sons, and Hallmark. For the past 10 years she worked at JPMorgan Chase, where in addition to being a VP/Program Manager for online banking, she was a wellness champion. In 2019 Jo decided it was time to pursue her passion for all things wellness including sharing how to make delicious wholesome food.

Jo has three adult children (David, Sasha married to Chaya, and Katya) in various parts of the world, and when they are all in the same city it brings her tremendous joy to cook and share family meals together. Currently she lives in Tampa Florida with her husband Walter nee Zev, two amazing dogs Lyla and Leo, and three fantastic cats, Lou, Lara, and Lua.

When Jo isn’t working she volunteers part of her time providing massage and or reiki to animal rescues and is also looking forward to dedicating time giving massages for low income seniors. Otherwise you can always find her practicing qigong, reading, drawing, or playing with food coming up with delicious plant-based recipes.

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 jobakal@tezoona.com

Tezoona Wellness, LLC

Wellness & Lifestyle Consultation - Virtual