Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment—free from distraction or judgment. It’s a proven method to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. Balanced You is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with mindfulness providers CuriosityBased and SolJoy. This collaboration highlights Balanced You’s dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive employee well-being program that is in alignment with King County’s values.
About CuriosityBased and SolJoy
CuriosityBased
CuriosityBased is a certified Minority and Women Business Enterprise that brings a curiosity-based approach to mindfulness and meditation. CuriosityBased is comprised of team members from varied cultural backgrounds who are focused on improving employee experiences at work by designing programs that foster development and inclusion. Short biographies of key CuriosityBased employees, provided by the employees themselves, are below.
Dr. Julie Pham, CEO and Founder of CuriosityBased, is an author, TEDx Speaker, and founder of “7 Forms of Respect®”. Dr. Pham earned her PhD in history at Cambridge University as a Gates Cambridge Scholar and she graduated magna cum laude from UC Berkeley, where she studied history. She earned her real-life MBA by running her family’s Vietnamese language newspaper during the Great Recession. She has worked as a journalist, historian, marketer, nonprofit executive, community organizer, and management consultant. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her community leadership. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Linh Huynh brings 5 years of workshop facilitation, teaching and designing curriculum. She’s served diverse populations at nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies. Drawing from her previous work with ages 3-19, she brings deep patience and adaptability to her work at CuriosityBased. Linh earned a Master’s in Social Work as a Foreign Language and Area of Studies (FLAS) Fellow and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Education from the University of Washington
SolJoy
SolJoy is a local BIPOC-owned business that specializes in somatic mindfulness practices focused on “integrating ancient wisdom, meditation, music, martial arts, and movement.” Soljoy’s mission is to make mindfulness accessible and impactful for diverse communities. SolJoy’s classes focus on a variety of topics, including mindfulness to support the processing of racial trauma. Short biographies of key SolJoy employees, provided by the employees themselves, are below.
Anna Choi is CEO of SolJoy. She is a two-time TEDx Speaker, Energy Master, Black Belt in Taekwondo, and Qigong Tai Chi Instructor serving high achieving leaders to feel more health, happiness and peace. Specializing in somatic mindfulness with over 400 classroom teaching hours and continuing education courses averaging 50 hours/year, she’s a vetted teacher on the mindfulness and meditation app Insight Timer with over 27 million students, teaching over 60,000 students and totaling nearly 100 qigong tai chi classes in 2023 for longevity, meditation, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, gut detoxing, self-care, and inspired action.
Trained by two world renowned enlightened energy masters during the last decade, Anna brings over 20,000 hours of transformative personal development and mindfulness training the last 2 decades, blending ancient wisdom, moving meditations, and somatic mindfulness to help students embody their soul’s joy. She’s also a Singer Songwriter, Performing Artist, and International Bestselling Author of the book “The Healthy CEO. Anna lives in Poulsbo married to Leo, her sweetheart of 21 years and mom to her 12 year old son Eli with their cat Max.
Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell’s teachings are deeply rooted in mindfulness, emphasizing the importance of being fully present and aware in every moment. Through the Guiding Principles of A.L.O.H.A.—Ask, Listen, Observe, Heart-focus, and Adapt/Acknowledge—Dr. G guides individuals to cultivate empathy, understanding, and intentionality in their interactions. Mindfulness is about slowing down to honor our shared humanity, creating space for meaningful connection, and responding with compassion. By integrating these practices, we can navigate difficult conversations, build stronger relationships, and transform challenges into opportunities for growth and healing.
Bianca is a TEDx Speaker bringing 25 Years of behavioral health, 12 Years Healthcare Founder & CEO, and Health-Tech Entrepreneur and author of Pathways in Crisis Services Foundational Course, and Trauma-Informed Care in Crisis Services for Paraprofessionals Course. She’s an instructor for pre- and post-service members at University of Nevada, Reno. Her company Reach-In Now™ is the culmination of her radical empathy and lived experiences from trials to championship at every level in her sport, in healthcare, and in education. Less than 1% of the global population can claim the level of expertise and influence Bianca possesses. She is the truest form of a disruptor and winner. Bianca is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and grew up in Sonoma County, California. She brings a genuineness and outpour of passion to every space she is in. She enjoys her first love of basketball, now as a recreational player and very emotional spectator. Bianca, a serious foodie, loves traveling, movie-watching, and golf.
Pardeep’s passion is to empower women of cultural heritage on a holistic journey of self-healing to be seen and heard. By rewriting narratives, embracing their heritage, and harnessing inner strength, clients radiate their essence and brilliance in the world. With 24 years experience in corporate sales, an unexpected layoff and stroke reshaped Pardeep’s path, that began her spiritual journey and next chapter of entrepreneurship. A Reiki Master, Energy Healer, and Akashic Records Consultant, Pardeep is Certified as a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), specializing in liberating individuals from limiting beliefs, phobias, and anxiety. She uses Mental and Emotional Release and Hypnosis to help clients release emotional burdens and pave the way for enduring change.
How to join CuriosityBased and SolJoy classses
Balanced You is excited to share that we heard employees’ requests for more class variety to accommodate busy schedules. As such, Balanced You worked with CuriosityBased and SolJoy to offer shorter class options at varied times beginning in August. Initially, all classes will be online and there will be in-person classes in the future. A schedule and class registration for summer 2024 can be found here.
We look forward to offering new mindfulness programing to all King County employees as we continue our mindfulness journey together.
For more information on mindfulness and other offerings, contact Balanced You at balancedyou@kingcounty.gov
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