Meet Joanna Tarnava | Life and Soul Coach, Energy and Bodyworker, Fitness and Wellness Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joanna Tarnava and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joanna, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose to follow a life path of art, and symbiosis. I realized from an early start in my professional career that as analytical and task oriented I am, I find a balance of equations and creative process in everything I do. I understood that also beyond that, bringing joy and healing to people through whatever modality I was working with was the outcome I truly craved. My goal in life is to continually create art, do the things I love, and assist and inspire others to find their paths as well. I haven’t worked a “job” for more than a few months since 2008. I am constantly in a state of awe by the world, the opportunities I find myself in and new ways to express myself as a well rounded Pisces who thrives in environments of creation. I don’t think I pursued it per say, I think my soul didn’t give me any other choice. I cannot imagine a reality to live in where I work in an office or “clock in” job environment.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
In the coaching and healing industry, we are taught “niche down”, “target market”, always strategizing into marketing funnels to get clients to make profits. Of course, every business is interested in profits, but especially the past 5 years or so, it’s become a saturated market of people becoming coaches for the soul purpose of making $15k months and working online, they get taught carbon copy methods of creating courses and the entire business model is based around maximum client and profit margins.

What sets me apart is I am a healer first, and business owner second. I truly believe in the importance of guiding people to their worthiness, liberation from stored trauma and alignment to their destined truth. I have a large bag to pull skills out of, so like functional fitness, and functional medicine, I provide full spectrum healing.

I’m not just a healer, or just a coach. We will not only find the issues in your tissues, I’ll invite corrective exercises, stretches, and MFR, CBT and mindfulness homework, tinctures and diet and much more. I meet you as you are and give tools and insight to help you become who you deserve to be.

I took the long road about creating my business. I spent many, many years studying, exploring, learning and growing until I decided to turn it into a full spectrum business. I thoroughly enjoyed my 20s as a free flowing traveler around the world, reinventing myself every few years until I had felt fully like I knew who I was, and what I wanted to establish as a business.

As far as mainstream society is concerned, we are pumped through the system to “make something of ourselves”. Graduate high school, go to college, choose a major, choose university, get a specific job in this field, follow all certifications and experience and then remain that way until we retire. I did not see that as my path, and definitely got a lot of judgement from older generations about “my future”.

Coming into California at 30 without the hard copy credentials or community, starting with excitement and openness to connect definitely wasn’t without its hardships. In LA, most of the navigation falls on who you know, and how you sell yourself. I am not an influencer; I didn’t even have an Instagram account. I did not understand branding yourself to sell a result. I am in the results business, but my goal is that you see that within yourself and trust that I have the tools to help you achieve it.

I have learned not to be so against using my face and personal story as a sales method. I have learned to not be against utilizing marketing as I need it for business. My sensitivity wants people to just “trust me” but they need to know why, they can’t just take my word for it. Ever learning and evolving as a business owner.

I want everyone to know that they can choose a self propelling life, outside of societal norms, to follow their passions, to become journeymen and artists and craftsmen in trades that set their hearts free. We don’t have to fit the expired mold anymore.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend loves Disney, so we would definitely be in Anaheim. But for someone to see the city with my eyes, I’d take us to the best health food shops for wheatgrass shots and healthy lunches, work out and hike with impeccable views, take in dinner and a cocktail at a rooftop DTLA, and definitely spend as many hours in the water surfing as possible. At night, I’d take us dancing to one of the most amazing venues in the country, and we’d have no shortage of sound baths, meditations and workshops to take in between. When my Mom came on her last visit I took her to an EFT tapping workshop to start our day before an afternoon of shopping and sunset at the Observatory. The reality is, LA is the best kept secret in the country, as contrary as that may sound. It’s the biggest small town around. You have the beautiful gift of experiencing everything you enjoy in one day, or one week.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am definitely heavily influenced and was formed by the following:
~Alan Watts (Philosophy on zen buddhism and other esoteric practices and spiritual paths)
~Tibetan and Tantric Buddhism, Vipassana, Bodhisattva, Kundalini Yoga, Hinduism
~My connection with water. The complexities of life, movement, riding the currents and waves, and tapping into this living, creating, and transforming substance that our planet is made of.
~The entire planet and the elements and the multiverse (some may call this Paganism) Honoring the soil, the plants, the creatures, the water, the air, the fire, the ether. Following the seasons and the cosmos and honoring the cycle of life outside of the gregorian calendar.
~The occult, Orishas, living divinity and sourced power (learning we are masters of our own destiny and honoring the worlds, tools, plants, people, and earth around us to manifest it)
~All the people I’ve met along the way, especially the mystics and sages and masters of their crafts who saw the teacher and healer in me and bestowed me with the wisdom of their arts in non traditional formats. I was given tools of Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and meridians by 3 different masters. I have been mentored and wrapped up in big sister energy of women 10-20 years further on the path as me, a gift which I pass down as well. I have met many people of genius in unusual places over my worldly travels whose nuggets of gold and wisdom helped shape who I am today and I am forever grateful and blessed to find those “right person, right place, right time” situations that propel me forward in life and further on my destined path.

Website: www.ritualmetta.com

Instagram: instagram.com/ritualmetta

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritual-metta-a739a8229/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ritual-metta-encinitas

Other: linktr.ee/ritualmetta

Image Credits
Eli Jules Photography (NYC, East Coast)