John Gagnon

I discovered yoga in addition to strength training after completely recovering from a hip replacement in 2017 and being able to exercise without pain. Yoga helped continue my recovery and while I was initially timid in some poses, I increased my flexibility after continuing to find my deeper edges in poses. I continued to practice confidently, and regularly, in a studio under the guidance of wonderful teachers until the pandemic hit and my studio practice was interrupted. At that point I wasn’t knowledgeable enough to practice on my own so during the pandemic I sought several fitness certifications while I built up an extensive home gym. A yoga certification was the next logical step for me and the course from Joy, in my own hometown, was too good to pass up, so in 2023 I studied with ten wonderful students to achieve a 200-hour yoga certificate. 

I enjoy sharing my fitness and yoga knowledge with students and was thrilled to become a regular teacher at Joy. My yoga styles are varied, from slow-flow, stretchy, wind-down evening practices, to more demanding yoga practices that integrate fitness exercises into the flows. I also offer private, in-home or studio, practices for new-to-yoga students, or students who, for any reason, find it too difficult to come to a studio to practice. I can bring Joy to your home!

I also own and operate Bien Health and Fitness, LLC (https://bienhealthandfitness.com) and am certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Group Fitness Instructor (GFI) and a Certified Health Coach (ACE-HC). I am also certified in functional aging by the Functional Aging Institute (FAI) as a Functional Aging Specialist and Functional Aging Group Exercise Specialist.

I offer personalized private in-home (or remote) yoga teaching and strength training with client goals in mind for both Joy students and Bien Fitness clients. Using my varied credentials, I can also work with you in a multidisciplinary way by utilizing yoga, strength training, and health coaching, in any single or multiple manner based upon your needs. I am in the process of building a strength studio at Joy and will be offering my services to students seeking to improve their fitness beyond the yoga classes at Joy.

I retired in Sept. 2024 from Lahey Hospital & Medical Center leading the Radiology IT team. I still teach part-time, online, for UNH – College of Professional Studies in their Health & Wellness and Business programs in the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Learn more about my background and experience on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/johngagnon61