I have always loved music and movement. They have, and always will be, my truest forms of expression.
However, as much as I love to move, sports were never my thing growing up. My deeply non-competitive nature, paired with my wacky inflatable tube dancer extremities, didn't support a prolonged athletic career. Fun fact: my nickname on the soccer team was "Crazy Legs..." (and it wasn't because these legs were scoring goals or making great passes...)
You can imagine my elation when I discovered yoga. I found true joy when my friend dragged me to my first yoga class in 2014. I was encouraged to step out of my mind and into my body; to breathe; to take up space; to simply be. I quickly learned that beginning a yoga class is not like crossing a starting line. Plus-- background music, essential oils, and temple massages! What's not to love!?
After years of dedicated practice, I decided to take the next step and become 200 hour RYT certified in 2022. At the time, I was working as a nurse in the Neuro ICU. It was an incredible experience and learning opportunity, yet, it was very taxing. I can have an emotional connection with a shoelace, so the rigmarole of the ICU life became, in short, disheartening.
Expanding my yoga comprehension, not only helped me master crow pose, but finally gave me the clarity and power to recognize that I needed a change in my career. After I graduated YTT, I made the difficult decision to leave my Neuro ICU family and transitioned to Labor and Delivery. Within a few weeks it became abundantly clear that I had finally found my nursing niche. Alas, yoga prevails again!
My mission as a teacher is to encourage students to feel comfortable in their own skin, find inner and outer strength, and practice mindfulness. I want to spur flexibility on and off the mat. I teach gentle, slow flow classes that focus on breath and deep stretching-- as well as approachable, power flow classes.
In the words of our beloved Maya Angelou, "When you learn, teach. When you get, give."
See ya on your mat, friends!