04/24/2026
Hello our beautiful JOY Family,
I hope you take the time to read this message as it’s one of love and gratitude.
I am passing the torch of JOY on to our wonderful Angela Muriel! She is the new owner and guardian of JOY.
For me, it’s been a lovingly dedicated 12 years creating, building, and growing JOY. A dream come true. I always knew I’d move on from the role of owner but that JOY would remain. It’s such a special place. Of course that’s thanks to you - our community- and our team, a perfect combination! It’s been a true honor to serve you in this way. To spent so many hours in the studio with you!
I won’t be far! Just across the hall! - and in studio offering sound healing / kirtan, possibly subbing, reiki & retreats.
FIRST, I’ll be focusing on enjoying being with my family as my son Mikey turns 22, my daughter Lucy graduates high school and moves onto college, and Jules begins Kindergarten.
As well as focusing on the things that have been calling to me personally and professionally for some time - creating classes and offerings about the philosophy and practice of Yoga and Buddhism as I continue my studies, publishing my first book, painting murals, building Karuna retreat and nature center in Maine - can’t wait to host you!, and even getting into real estate (it’s been on my mind for a few years)! I’m currently taking both birth and death doula courses right now. So fascinating!
Angela and I have spent countless hours together to make this transition smooth and seamless as you can tell because nothing has changed!
Angela has a deep love and understanding for yoga, our community, and the continuation of the past nearly 12 years! She is dedicated to picking up where I left off with renewed passion and motivation. It’s so refreshing!
Our teaching team has welcomed Angela and this passing of the torch with open arms and we all know that you all will do the same!
Feel free to reach out to me with any replies to this message at jbhav919@gmail.com and be on the lookout for Karuna emails as well as following me personally on Facebook - Jennifer Bandilli Charland or on Instagram.
I’m excited to support Angela in the continuation and growth of JOY and to remain connected to all of you.
Much gratitude, love and Namaste,
Jennifer
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Dear Jennifer,
My eyes welled up with happy tears reading your words. I can hear your voice in my head, almost as if listening to an audio book.
I don't have enough fingers or toes to count how much love and gratitude I have for you, your guidance and your wisdom. I am truly blessed to have you in my life. I am honored and humbled to take on the role of owner and guardian of JOY. I can't wait to see where this journey takes us.
Lots of BIG things happening in your life and I love all of it for you and your beautiful family. Mikey, Lucy and Jules are amazing humans. I wish nothing but the best for you and Josh. All of your hard work and dedication to family, friends, and the JOY community shines through. It's not easy being a mom, creator, teacher, learner, writer and savvy business woman but you make it look seamless! I can't wait to see all of your dreams come into fruition.
You may have heard this story before but here it goes again, maybe with some bonus material this time...I came to find JOY because a great friend of mine gifted me a Groupon for a sacred foot soak and 15 minute infrared sauna session. From that very first moment of stepping through the door, I knew I belonged here. I was taking yoga asana classes elsewhere at the time with only one instructor, she worked right up until giving birth to a beautiful baby girl, but the place she taught at had no plans of continuing classes during her maternity leave. I was already a year into practicing at least 2 times per week and thought, well, what the heck and I am gonna do now? I can't go 3 months without Yoga! Good thing that after my gifted Groupon foot soak and sauna session, I got a tour of JOY and found out about the yoga classes. I ended up taking every class I could, as often as I could. I attended sound healings, women's circles, book immersions. meditation offerings and breathtaking retreats. I found that each time I showed up for myself, my mind started to quiet and my heart started to open, it's almost as if my eyes and ears started to adjust, like tuning an old radio by moving the antenna around. I talked to our wonderful Kerri about it and I can still picture her facial expression and the way she looked into my eyes as she said, "you're awakening".
Let's fast forward to my YTT training. I never intended on becoming a teacher, I wanted to learn more about Yogic philosophy, Hinduism and Buddhism and that I did! The more I learned, the more I wanted to know because honestly, everytime I learned/learn something new, I realized I knew nothing at all. This is why I will forever be a student and life long learner! I can go on forever about all of the benefits of having a daily practice, whether that be the physical practice of yoga, meditation, mantra or mindfulness but I chose instead to share by teaching. Now, if anyone would have asked me 5 years ago if I could see myself teaching yoga, let alone becoming an owner of a yoga studio, I would have laughed and brushed it off as nonsense. I was not good at public speaking or being the center of attention. It has all been a practice and still is, every day, every moment and it's all different each time.
I have so much gratitude for each and every teacher and service provider at JOY, past and present. Every single one has made me feel welcomed, seen and heard. All beautiful souls.
To our beloved JOY family. You are what makes this space so special, your willingness to carve out time for yourselves, to show up even when it's hard. The work you're doing for yourself shines so brightly that it radiates out into the Universe to help make this world a better place. It all starts with you being the change you want to see in the world. My heart overflows with JOY every time I see your shining faces walk through the door. Let's keep this torch lit, together.
With much love and light,
Angela Muriel
