In an industry saturated with quick-fix solutions and restrictive dieting regimens, one fitness professional stands apart with a radically different approach to weight management. Rev Joanne Angel BarryColon, founder of Wholistic Fitness NY, has earned her reputation as “the Disruptor” by challenging conventional wisdom about weight loss, particularly for women in midlife.
With over four decades of experience in health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness, BarryColon has developed a methodology that addresses weight not merely as a physical issue but as an emotional and spiritual one. Her approach centers on the concept that excess weight often correlates with unresolved emotional stories—a connection that traditional fitness programs typically overlook.
The foundation of her work lies in what she terms the P.O.S.T. Method—Prescriptive, Observational, Soul-based Training. This framework moves beyond calorie counting and exercise regimens to explore the deeper reasons behind weight gain and retention. According to BarryColon’s philosophy, releasing weight begins with identifying and processing the emotional narratives connected to it.
What distinguishes BarryColon’s holistic approach to health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness is her emphasis on the whole person—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The “W” in Wholistic Fitness NY symbolizes this comprehensive perspective. Rather than focusing exclusively on physical transformation, BarryColon guides clients toward authentic self-discovery and acceptance.
Her achievements reflect the impact of this unconventional methodology. BarryColon has received the POWER WOE Women of Empowerment Award and recognition from Worldwide Women’s Health for Excellence. Her influence has also been acknowledged through feature cover appearances in multiple publications, including The Aurora Porch Magazine, Your Success Magazine, and Success2Success magazine.
The core message BarryColon imparts to her clients represents a significant departure from mainstream fitness culture: love your body as it is now. This philosophy stands in stark contrast to an industry often built on dissatisfaction and the promise of future happiness once certain physical goals are achieved.
BarryColon’s work suggests that weight serves a purpose in each person’s journey—whether temporary or long-term—and understanding this purpose is key to transformation. Through the Body and Soul Transformation Prescription Plan at Wholistic Fitness NY, clients learn to release resistance, limitations, and restrictions, which BarryColon believes naturally leads to releasing unnecessary weight.
For women navigating the complex physical and emotional changes of midlife, this approach offers not just a path to physical transformation but an opportunity for profound personal growth. By addressing the emotional stories held within the body’s tissues, BarryColon’s clients often experience weight release as a natural outcome of emotional healing rather than the result of restrictive dieting.
As the fitness industry continues to evolve, BarryColon’s holistic methodology represents a growing recognition that sustainable physical transformation must address the whole person—body, mind, emotions, and soul.