Josée-Ann Cloutier

Josée is on an eco-dharmic path, inspired by various wisdom teachers and traditions that center care and stewardship for both the Earth and humanity. She began practicing mindfulness/awareness meditation in 1999 and became a meditation instructor in 2008 within the Shambhala Buddhist tradition.

She has studied traditional bathing, sauna, spa, and hydrotherapies worldwide and holds a Master’s degree in Wellness Spa and Service Design from the University of Tartu in Estonia. She sought out independent training in the art and craft of public bathing in the Baltics, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. She trained in relaxation massage, cupping, aromatherapy, somatic attachment therapy, spa therapies, contrast therapy, whisking, and aufguss. In 2016, Josée founded Steam Space, a community enterprise offering wood-fired mobile sauna sessions as a social lab. Steam Space now offers guidance in wellness design, facilitation, and consulting, specializing in rituals, retreats, and the thermal cycle.

In 2023, Josée founded Circulate, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting well-being by providing accessible wellness and complementary care centered around nature connection, community, and social/ecological justice. She designed and developed a trauma-informed Community Sauna as a model for community healing and well-being as Circulate’s central offering.

A settler of Franco-Ontarian heritage from Anishinabek territory, Josée currently lives in Mi’kma’ki. She is deeply grateful for her mentors, teachers, family, friends, communities, and the beautiful wonder of nature’s gifts that inspire her reverence and commitment to a path of service.