Salt & Soul
A Life of Writing, Yoga,
Travel & Storytelling
I’m Joan Hammel, founder of
Salt & Soul Collective.
This is the home base for my work as a writer, yoga teacher, and Santa Cruz storyteller.
Explore my retreats.
Join me on the mat.
Read my stories.
Retreats
Travel has always been part of my life — and over the years, I’ve participated in yoga, Pilates, and surfing retreats across California, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and Greece.
Those experiences shape how I think about retreats today.
I know what it’s like to arrive somewhere new after a long journey and want everything to feel effortless.
Every retreat I design is built to achieve that, so you can land, exhale and instantly feel at ease and cared for.
That care shows up in the details: thoughtfully paced days, welcoming spaces, good movement, great food, music, shared laughter and plenty of time to breathe it all in.
I partner with trusted local hosts to create small, well-designed gatherings in beautiful places — combining yoga, time outdoors, amazing experiences and genuine connection.
Yoga
Come Practice…
Yoga has been part of my life for years — first as a personal practice, and now as something I get to share with others through teaching.
I’m a certified 400-hour RYT teacher with additional training in breathwork. I primarily teach Vinyasa Flow and Hot Yoga with a strong focus on breath, alignment, and safe, accessible movement for all levels. I’m also comfortable teaching Gentle, Yin, and Restorative classes.
My approach is simple: yoga should feel good in your body. I encourage students to focus more on how the practice feels than how it looks.
I love creating welcoming, lighthearted spaces — often with a great playlist and a little humor — where beginners feel comfortable and experienced students still feel challenged.
Weekly Classes
Hot Elevation Studios
1440 41st Ave., Suite E, Capitola
Hot Yoga
Tuesday at 12noon
Private Sessions
One-on-one or small group sessions tailored to your goals — great for beginners, injury recovery, or a more personalized experience.
Retreats & Guest Teaching
Available for retreats, workshops, and studio collaborations — locally and abroad.
SANTA CRUZ PULSE
Santa Cruz Pulse features Santa Cruz Today, the weekly newsletter I write for Good Times, covering news, culture, events and everyday life around Santa Cruz County.
It’s where I take everything happening across Santa Cruz and curate it into one essential read — drawing on the Good Times writers’ real connections to the artists, leaders, and organizers shaping the scene — so you get the stories actually worth your time: the must-know news, the shows to book before they sell out, the tables to grab before everyone else does, and the civic decisions that shape how we live.