Featured Wellness Ambassador: Kelli Claudette Torpey
What is your field/area of expertise?
I wear several hats in terms of my work. I enjoy working as Event & Office Administration Coordinator for the Parkinson Support Center in Middletown and coordinating our Denim & Diamonds Gala which we will host on Friday, June 5 at Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center.
However, yoga and art expression are my passion. I have been practicing yoga for 17 years and since I received my 200-hour Hatha Yoga Certification from Yoga East in 2003, I have taught yoga part-time in Louisville and Door County, Wisconsin. Every time I have taught a yoga class, or participated in yoga, I have felt better – more balanced and happy.
I formed Kelli’s Art of Yoga in February of 2013 which allowed me to teach periodic yoga and art expression workshops and regular classes for children and adults. It has been very rewarding to experience the students enjoying themselves!
How did you get into this line of work?
A classmate at Yoga East suggested I take teacher training since I began yoga in 1998. I have a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy from University of Louisville and my past work as an Art Therapist also inspired me to form Kelli’s Art of Yoga and to combine – and offer - yoga and art expression workshops.
How does your work contribute to the wellness of our community?
I have always treasured Louisville since I moved here in 1994 from Atlanta. I am very fortunate to have a diverse variety of close friends and associates. I am one spoke in the wheel of wellness in Louisville, but I bring my experience as well as my compassionate and humorous personality to my yoga classes and art/yoga workshops. I have taught yoga for the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center’s Summer Kids Camps for the last two summers, yoga and art expression for Yew Dell Garden’s Children in the Dell summer programs and yoga for children with cancer and their families at the Kids Cancer Alliance’s Summer camp. I also love teaching weekly Beginning Hatha Yoga at St. Matthews United Methodist Church on Monday evenings and substitute teaching for Baptist East Milestone Fitness, Yoga East and Yoga on Baxter.
If I help children, seniors and adults feel even a bit better on any level - physical, mental, emotional and especially spiritually – I am living a joyful and purposeful life…and I feel happy! J
Why do you love Rainbow Blossom?
I have shopped at Rainbow Blossom since the late 1990s. I support the Auerbach family and their belief in holistic wellness and supporting local farmers and businesses. I am impressed with Summer’s experience in her family business and how she is involved in so many community events that support us all. I also really like Maddy Krueger, their Department Sales Manager. She has attended my yoga classes when her schedule allowed. She recommended I apply for the Wellness Ambassador program. I shop weekly at the Lexington Road or Middletown locations to purchase Rainbow Blossom’s organic “Body, Mind & Soul” Fair Trade coffee, nutritional supplements, their lavender soaps, and lavender and cedar bath salts. Rainbow helps me take better care of myself so I can be there for others! Namaste!