Looking back it was a pretty progressive PE class for its time and place...  Over the following decades, I would combine self-study and the stewardship of a variety of yoga teachers to deepen my practice and understanding of what yoga is and can be.  Sometimes my practice was in a studio, and sometimes it was in my bedroom after putting my toddler to sleep, with a dog underfoot and my teacher confined to an instructional video on a laptop.  Once, very memorably, it was on a rooftop in Jaipur, and at some point it also became a practice I could fill a bookshelf with, as I taught myself yoga philosophy.

During the pandemic, I sought out yoga classes outdoors for both my daughter and I.  “Belly breathe…” my then eight year old would sometimes remind me, a mantra during those uncertain times.  

By then my yoga practice was strong and steady, and I considered going to India to train to become a teacher.  Life had other plans though, when a hiking accident rendered me dizzy any time I looked in a given direction too quickly, and unable to set any weight on my left knee, for nearly a year.  My yoga teacher at that time suggested chair yoga.  I was 33 and humbled.  On some level it sounded embarrassing, and on another, I wanted to hold onto this practice that meant so much to me, whatever the form.  I am grateful to have listened to her, as my understanding of what yoga could be and could do for people expanded yet again

My Teaching Philosophy…  

The beautiful thing about yoga, to me, is that as with any practice, you’re never quite finished with it.  There is always more to learn, there is always more your practice can teach you.  It’s not something you can perfect, (a fact I find quite comforting!)  It really is a lifetime practice.  Lately I have been focused on the essence of embodiment, what that means, how that echoes through my life.  I have been focused on resilience, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  I think a lot about longevity and aging well.  I joke with family and friends that yoga is the answer to everything, but in truth, I do feel passionate about sharing this practice that has enriched my life so much.

I believe yoga can be for everybody and every body, at every stage and phase of life.  As a teacher, my hope is to provide a container for students to explore a practice that is sustainable, accessible, and encourages growth.  

My personal yoga philosophy is that yoga is a practice of integration: body, mind and spirit.  On our mats, we can find 

• mobility, flexibility, balance, and strength in the physical body

• we can re-wire our nervous systems to find calm within ourselves

• we can shake up our patterns of thinking and learn to see ourselves and others with compassion

• we can begin to recognize the pauses between our actions, the places where we get to make choices about what we do next

We can take these lessons off the mat and feel the effects ripple through our daily lives and relationships with others.  Ultimately, I think yoga is a practice of wellness for the whole self.

If you are looking to begin or continue your own yoga story, it would be my pleasure to join you on that journey.  Check here for where you can find upcoming classes, or feel free to reach out for information on private lessons.  <3