I began my yoga journey in 1997 when I was searching for new ways to challenge myself in my workouts. I was drawn to the ways that yoga instills patience and the ability to turn off your mind. Years later, I can be still, with a quiet mind, whenever I am on my mat. I became serious about teaching yoga after quitting a job that left me physically and emotionally drained. I realized then that it was time to make a career change and focus on something that would feed my spirit and fill a lingering void.

I began studying with Ana Forrest, a world-renown yoga teacher. I completed the Forrest Teacher Training at Moksha Yoga Center in 2002. It wasn’t until working with Ana that I fully understood the concept of the mind/body connection. During my training, I encountered and navigated through a personal healing process that gave me the tools to better understand my own body and help others identify and honor their authentic selves. In other words, I discovered that I could help others live their truths through the gift of yoga, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

In 2008, I herniated a disk in my low back (L4/L5) at which point a degenerative disk at L5/S1 was also discovered. The sciatica that ensued made the simplest tasks, even walking, virtually impossible. To address the situation, I tried a combination of pain medication, physical therapy, chiropractic care and two epidural steroid injections…but still I returned to yoga. My practice then shifted focus entirely to learning how to cope with and alleviate the pain- personal lessons that I now bring to each and every class I teach in order to help others with similar injuries and pain.