Check Out Joshua Kindt’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Kindt.

Hi Joshua, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in New Jersey, movement became more than just exercise for me, it became a form of healing, self-awareness and connection. I’ve been practicing yoga for over 12 years and what first started as curiosity slowly transformed into a lifelong passion for understanding both the mind and the body. Over time, yoga taught me how to slow down, reflect and challenge myself with compassion.

My journey deepened after facing major health challenges, including cancer treatment and a stroke. Those experiences changed the way I viewed life completely. There were moments of fear and uncertainty, but they also taught me resilience, adaptability and the importance of staying open-hearted through difficult seasons. Yoga became an anchor during that time, helping me reconnect with myself physically, mentally and spiritually.

Today, I bring that same energy into every class, training session and community space I step into. My goal is to help people feel seen, empowered and capable of growth regardless of where they’re starting from. Whether I’m teaching yoga, leading bootcamps, supporting clients through behavioral work or working with children with autism, special needs and physical disabilities, I aim to create environments where people feel safe enough to challenge themselves and discover their own strength.

Alongside teaching, I’ve had the privilege of working in nonprofit and community-centered spaces that focus on uplifting others through wellness, creativity and authentic connection. I’ve also developed a creative project through my book, “My Gift To You”, which has allowed me to conduct interviews and spotlight individuals within my community whose stories reflect resilience, growth and shared humanity. These conversations continue to inspire me and deepen my belief in the power of storytelling.

Currently, I’m continuing my education through my 300-hour yoga certification while also pursuing my personal training certification and expanding into different fitness modalities. I’m passionate about blending different styles of movement because I believe wellness should be accessible, adaptable and enjoyable for everyone.

Looking ahead, I hope to continue growing my platform and creative projects, including expanding my written work, developing future wellness initiatives and eventually creating bilingual and interactive resources that can reach even more communities.

A huge part of my strength comes from my father, whose love and belief in me continue to guide me everyday. Even though he’s no longer physically here, his encouragement lives through everything I do. His spirit reminds me to move through life with confidence, compassion and purpose.

At the core of it all, my mission is simple: to inspire people to keep showing up for themselves, to embrace growth without perfection and to remember that healing and transformation are possible.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has not been linear, and I think that’s what’s shaped me most. Growing up, I often felt a bit on the outside, and it took time, life experience and self-acceptance to really come into who I am. Movement became one of the first spaces where I felt grounded in myself, and over time yoga turned into a consistent practice of healing and discovery for me.

A major turning point in my life came after experiencing serious health challenges, including cancer that required emergency surgeries and a stroke. That period completely shifted my perspective on life. There were moments of real fear and uncertainty, especially around my independence and recovery. At one point, I was even confronted with the possibility of needing a live-in aide. But those experiences ultimately resilience, patience and gratitude in a way nothing else could. I had to rebuild my relationship with my body and trust myself again step by step.

After that, I experienced the loss of my father, which deeply impacted me. His presence and belief in me still guide me today, and I carry that with me in the way i Show up for myself and others.

Today, that foundation show up in my work. Whether I’m teaching yoga, supporting clients through movement-based and behavioral work, or working with children with autism, special needs, and physical disabilities, my focus is on creating spaces where people feel safe, supported and capable of growth in their own way.

I’m currently continuing my 300-hour yoga certification while also pursuing my personal training certification, as I continue expanding my knowledge across different modalities of movement and wellness.

At the core of everything I do is the belief that healing and growth are not linear, but they are always possible.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work in the wellness and movement space as a yoga instructor, movement specialist and fitness professional, supporting people through a blend of yoga, strength-based training and behavior-informed movement work. My approach is rooted in meeting people exactly where they are, whether they are stepping into movement for the first time or looking to deepen an existing practice.

I specialize in creating accessible, supportive spaces that help people reconnect with their bodies in a sustainable and empowering way. I work with a wide range of individuals, including general wellness clients as well as children with autism, special needs and physical disabilities. My focus is always on adaptability, safety, and helping each person build confidence through movement in a way that feels personal to them.

What I’m most known for is my ability to hold a space for transformation without pressure or judgement. My teaching style is grounded, intuitive, and deeply human, shaped by experience across yoga, bootcamp-style training, behavioral support work and lived personal challenges. I aim to connect with people not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well, creating an environment where they feel supported as a whole person.

What I’m most proud of is my resilience and the way I’ve been able to turn my own life experiences into a source of guidance for others. After facing major health challenges, I had to rebuild my relationship with my body from the ground up. That experience deeply shaped how I teach and how I show up for others today.

One thing I’m often recognized for is my presence and speaking voice. The way I cue movement and hold space tends to feel grounding, calming and motivational for people. In both group classes and one-on-one settings, I focus on using my energy and communication to create a sense of safety and encouragement that helps people stay present and trust their own capacity to move through challenges.

What sets me apart is the integration of everything I bring into my work. I don’t separate the physical from the emotional or mental. I see movement as a tool of healing, awareness and empowerment, and I aim create spaces where people feel safe enough to grow at their own pace. My work is less about performance and more about connection, confidence and long-term well-being.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
My view on risk has definitely evolved over time. I don’t necessarily see myself as someone who takes impulsive risks, but I do see myself as someone who has had to make decisions in life where there wasn’t a guaranteed outcome, only trust, intuition and commitment to growth

One of the biggest “risks”, if I can call it that, was continuing to move forward in my life and career after experiencing major health challenges like cancer and my stroke. There was a point where even basic independence felt uncertain, and the idea of rebuilding my body, my strength and my identity required a level of faith in myself that I hadn’t been asked to access before. Choosing to stay in motion physically, mentally and professionally became a daily decision.

Another form of risk has been choosing a non-traditional path in my career. Working across yoga, fitness, behavioral support and community-based work has not always been the most linear or predictable route. There have been moments of uncertainty in building stability, balancing multiple roles and trusting that my skill set would come together in a meaningful way. But I’ve learned that with growth often requires stepping into spaces before you feel fully “ready”, and trusting that you will meet yourself there.

I think my perspective on risk is less about chasing uncertainty for its own sake, and more about listening to what aligns with my purpose, even when it feels uncomfortable and unclear. For me, the biggest risks have been moments where I chose to keep going after things changed in my life, and to continue building something meaningful out of those experiences.

Overall, I see risk as something deeply connected to trust, trust in timing, trust in resilience and trust in your ability to adapt and rebuild when life shifts unexpectedly.

Pricing:

• Private Yoga Sessions: $65
• Couples Yoga Session: $100
• Private Stretch Sessions: $65
• My Book, “My Gift To You”: $24 (on amazon)
• Community Yoga Classes (Men’s Health Foundation) DTLA the second Tuesday and WeHo the last Tuesday of each month: complimentary/no cost to participants.

Contact Info:

• Website: Personal Instagram: @joshuanonchalant
• Instagram: Yoga Instagram: @trippyhippieyoga
• Facebook: Book Instagram: @joshsgifttoyou

Image Credits
Images are from my personal yoga instagram and past class sessions.