Trauma: A Lifelong Tragedy or A Pathway to Transformation
Your presence here reflects a beautiful and brave choice.
Welcome to the path of healing, compassion, joy and creativity!
As you explore this website, may you find something that supports your healing, sparks your joy, and softly reminds you of the beauty and sacredness of your existence.
To serve reveals love, making it visible, felt, and sustained.
- V I S I O N -
An earth inhabited by humans fully aware of their interconnectedness with all of life. In harmony with our innate joy, kindness and curiosity, we honor our individuality while contributing to the well-being of others and our natural world.
- M I S S I O N -
To educate, empower, and inspire well-being practices—especially for those who have experienced trauma—helping them transform pain into resilience and joy through compassionate, evidence-based care.
A QUEST FOR WELL-BEING PODCAST
An eco-retreat space dedicated to holistic healing, connection with nature, and Hawaiian cultural education.
VALERIA KOOPMAN - Founder, Executive Director, and Board Chair of FIT FOR JOY: Garden of Well-Being on Kaua’i, Hawai’i — 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Author, Facilitator
Choosing resilience over tragedy, I transformed the traumas I endured into pathways for compassionate, joyful and creative living.
My deepest intuitive knowing guided me to honor the divine nature of life. I wholeheartedly embraced practices of self-love, healing, connection, creativity, spiritual growth, and harmony.
From these sacred spaces, peace and joy would softly visit—sometimes as a fleeting whisper, other times as a sweet fragrance lasting for a moment, sometimes hours, days, or even months—until I discovered that they were not merely visiting me; I was the one visiting them.
I’m a dedicated advocate for holistic living and a devoted messenger of joy.
I wrote three books on self‑love, inner peace, and joy and launched Fit for Joy, this online community of hundreds of well‑being practitioners and authors. Over six joyful years of collaboration, our podcast has reached thousands, and I was humbled by a Helen Keller Award nomination in 2025.
Since discovering that joy can be cultivated and is always available, I live guided by intuition, gratitude, compassion, creativity, and love—and I help others find nourishing paths to well‑being. We are ALL Fit for Joy!
“Six hours later I had finished reading Fit for Joy and found myself sitting there deep in thought about the cause of my present discontent.
~ Terry Clayton, Psychologist and Educator
“We must find our peace and happiness inside ourselves if we hope to find it in the world around us. Valeria's story is powerful and personal. You will find deep meaning in these pages and be encouraged to transform your life.”
~ Elisa Robyn, Renaissance Educator, Leader, Consultant and Astrologer
“Changing the meaning that we give to events, circumstances, and creating our own positive inner self-talk are such valuable lessons that can take our joy of life to new levels. I could not put the Fit for Joy book down. It's a true story, that could change your life, maybe forever.”
~ Cliff Yates, Retired from Police work, Actor and Comedian
“Through a practice of awareness and self-love, Valeria consciously chooses to connect to the power of her heart as she embraces the joy within rather than seeking external sources to attain the joy. As an Intuitive Medium and Conscious Creator, her message is in alignment with my own heart-centered practice and teachings. It's time for all of us to step into our power fully, embody a practice of well-being and love ourselves fully.”
~ Shelly Wilson, Intuitive Medium, Reiki Master and Spiritual Teacher
“Fit for Joy is not as much about physical fitness as it is about internal fitness – love and acceptance for yourself.
In the last part of the book Ms. Teles goes deep into her personal journey of self-discovery. She shares her views of heart-based love, of what matters in life.
If you have been chasing external validation, seeking happiness outside yourself, it will be easy for you to see the futility of your efforts.”
— John Chancellor, Author and Amazon Reviewer
“Valeria's books help those of you ready for more peace and less fear to remember how. Where we place our attention is our choice. Love just FEELS better than fear, when we learn how. Allow Valeria to show you.”
~ Lynn Telford-Sahl, Author, Psychologist, and Coach
“Valeria writes with intelligence, heart, and genuine wisdom. If you read her books with attention and put the wisdom into practice, you will transform your relationship with your mind, and therefore, with life.”
~ Josh Sandeman, Zen Buddhist and Writer
“Valeria’s insights and perspectives are transparent and authentic, and her journey will inspire your own. If you are ready for physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation, then Fit for Joy is for you.”
— Michael Thomas Sunnarborg, Wellness Wrangler | Coach | Relentless Optimist
You Are the Journey & the Destination.
It’s by realizing that You are the impossible that everything else becomes possible.
valeria@fitforjoy.org
NATURE CALLING: HONORING THE SACREDNESS OF LIFE