Yoga Bio
My yoga journey has been fulfilling for many reasons. I first started yoga at a fitness club when I was 19. Not knowing it at the time, I stumbled upon one of the best teachers in the world, in my opinion. She had a presence about her that I had never experienced before. She was calm, nurturing, graceful, humble, and genuine. She looked at me as though she loved me, and I think I needed that more than I knew. I went to all of her classes as often as I could. Mostly to be in her presence. But also because she was teaching classical yoga; yoga with lineage to Krishnamacharya Hatha, Patabhi Jois Ashtanga Vinyasa, and B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga. She was the real deal and I could feel it. She taught me the foundations of yoga and her sequencing, knowledge, guidance, and presence left me feeling whole. After about a year of studying with her, she asked me to start subbing her classes. Before I knew it, I found myself teaching at local studios, fitness centers, the university, and an alternative high school. I taught 8 classes a week.
I developed a daily home practice at a young age. I did a lot of self-study and was interested in Eastern philosophy, especially yoga philosophy. My asana practice was steady and advanced quickly. I understood how to tweak the slightest position of a finger or a toe and get a different effect or energy. I was blessed with body awareness even as a child. I was a gymnast. As time went on, I moved to Denver and finally got my yoga certification in 2007 after already teaching for 8 years. Then I started studying at an Iyengar studio for 14 years with a teacher who was known for going off the beaten path when it came to the Iyengar tradition. He took me under his wing and I got regular informal teacher training from him in every class. That was where I learned about the energies of the subtle bodies, body mechanics, and precise alignment. I gained knowledge from watching other peoples’ bodies: posture, breath, face, energy, alignment, etc. He also taught me how to adjust people and make yoga accessible and individualized for each aspirant. I was so fortunate to have these 2 teachers, Jane Houck and Kevin Durkin, take me in the way they did.
Even with 25+ years of asana and pranayama practice, I still lean on other tools too, for healing and balance. The practice of the yamas and niyamas, the 8 limbs of yoga, mindfulness, therapy, self-care rituals, and asking for help are other practices that I need for a balanced life - which I strive for and no, have not, mastered. I’ve learned that I can no longer depend solely on my physical practice to feel connected at a deeper level. But, this is where yoga starts and this is how I stay physically healthy, sense my emotions, and manage stress.
In March 2021 I received my 300 hr teaching certification, giving me the 500 hr credentials. That training, and the downtime of the pandemic, allowed me to go much deeper in my practice. I utilize many styles of yoga, meditations, mantras, and philosophy. I’ve realized that if I have a strong attraction or aversion to any one style, person, action, or thing then there is a lesson there to further explore. I use this technique often in life. It’s how I stay committed to growing as a student and teacher. I believe that you don’t have to commit to any one style, or any one teacher to experience the depth of what yoga has to offer. It is about self-discovery, self-awareness, and realizing that everything you are searching for is already inside of you.
My wish is that any and everyone who is drawn to yoga sticks with it so they may experience how it can transform their lives. There is something for everyone and your yoga changes as you do. It is an art and science, and you don’t have to conceptualize it or label it for it to work. Your work is to show up with an open mind, stay curious, and allow the yoga to do the work. It’s a gift to be drawn to yoga. It’s a gift to seek and find deeper meaning in life. That is what I want for my students.
