Jona Ellis (they/them)

‘Your body isn’t broken—it’s just alive, and sometimes that feels like a lot.’ Jona Ellis is a therapeutic yoga educator, breath-work facilitator, and anatomy enthusiast specializing in aging bodies and people navigating illness or injury. Their teaching blends evidence-based movement, nervous system support, and accessible practice design with a deep respect for the realities of aging, illness, and recovery.

With more than 20,000 teaching hours, 1,000 hours of anatomy training, and advanced study in aging at Duke University, Jona has partnered with organizations including NIKE, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Tivity Health. Their primary teacher is Jason Crandell, whose mentorship continues to inform Jona’s approach to clarity, sequencing, and sustainable practice.

Before teaching full-time, Jona spent two decades at NIKE developing mindfulness and wellness programs for employees—long before “wellness” became a corporate trend. Their work invites students to move with curiosity, self-respect, and humor, recognizing that practice isn’t about perfection—it’s about returning, again and again, to what’s still possible.