Joanna Goan is a registered dietician who worked in the corporate scene for years, experiencing stress and anxiety that led to physical complaints along with mental health strain. She tried medications, and eventually, her doctor recommended yoga. With some trepidation, she decided to give it a whirl in 2015. That’s all it took. She was hooked. She began to experience a profound change in her nervous system, increased flexibility and a desire to learn more.
In 2016, she began yoga teacher school. She was in a 200-hour program locally and enrolled in a 300-hour training program in Florida that she would commute to. When that was completed, she began teaching classes in Knoxville. Having done this for years and going through some personal transformations, she opened her studio in 2019 in a renovated backyard shed. She created Evolve Nutrition and Yoga, combining her years of nutrition and wellness background with yoga. She called the first location her “yoga shed,” and there was space to hold eight mats. Once that maxed out regularly, she saw it as her sign to move forward with her dream of opening a larger studio to accommodate more yogis. Her business has continued to grow; she even trains the UT football team in yoga practices. In 2023, she was voted as one of City View Magazines Best of the Best for Yoga Instructors.
After a bit of searching for just the right location, the opportunity arose for her and her business partner, CJ Popp, to open Evolve Yoga in the Baker Creek Preserve area that is thriving with new businesses like Crafty Bastard, Hummingbird Café, and Bear Paw Bike Shop. CJ met Joanna through yoga classes she took with her, and they quickly became friends. CJ was a significant source of encouragement for Joanna in this new venture. CJ and Joanna are thrilled with the way the space is coming together. They are hosting practice classes leading up to the grand opening on September 1, and I decided to try one of the classes so I could tell you about the experience first-hand.
Joanna and CJ want their studio to be welcoming, calming and safe for everyone who enters. She credits her hands-on teaching style to the rate of success she has had in teacher training and the positive results and returns clients to her yoga practice. All but one of the teachers hired for Evolve has been through Joanna’s teacher training. She is proud to have the “best of the best” in teachers. She believes in yoga’s transforming power on the body and mind. She tells me her practice is grounded in integrity and treats yoga as a way of life.
I was a little apprehensive about my first class since the only yoga I’ve ever done was on a DVD years ago. I think I still have it somewhere. But it’s a different experience walking into a studio and doing it live and in person. Many of the class participants were either teachers or had been doing yoga for a time already, which added to my feeling of being lost. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly, and you get the sense that your development in their space matters. Once we got started, aside from myself looking around to ensure I was doing the positions correctly, everyone was inward-focused, and it helped me see how personal yoga is, even in a group class. No one was looking at me or my form as I had feared. Everyone had their own goal for the class. Some go for relaxation, some for meditation, some for physical health and some focus on flexibility and strength.
The class I took was Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra class. Yin yoga helps you stretch and lengthen those rarely-used tissues(ligaments, fascia, joints) while also teaching you how to breathe through discomfort and sit with your thoughts. Yoga Nidra is similar to meditation, but you are lying down, and the goal is a state of relaxation with awareness. What it looked like in practice was several yoga poses with extended time in the pose to stretch the connective tissue and time in the pose to achieve relaxation. I had no idea what to expect going into this practice, but coming away from it, I felt calm and quiet. For someone with ADHD whose mind never stops, this was quite an accomplishment.
Many other classes are offered at Evolve Yoga, including but not limited to hot yoga, power yoga, and prenatal yoga. Joanna will host teacher training, nutrition consultations, and Neveskin facials. There are founding member specials and discounts for students, military and first responders. They are offering a 30 for $30 special in the first couple of months, which gives you unlimited access to the classes for 30 days. This will allow you to experience different styles and teachers to find your favorites.
They are hosting a grand opening on September 1 from 4 until guests stop coming in. The event will include music, light snacks from other Baker Creek Preserve businesses, and a chance to see the new studio and meet the teachers in person. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on their classes and special events.
joanna@evolvenutritionyoga.com
(865) 850-1074
3726 Sevier Heights Road, Knoxville, TN 37920