Ever since a young age, my two passions have been sports and music. I was drawn to the intensity of a physical challenge and the thrill of “the zone” in performance. But when I had to undergo two spinal surgeries my first year of college, my relationship with my body changed drastically and abruptly.

 

I turned to yoga more regularly during my recovery, desperately searching for something that would enable me to move back into strength and comfort in my body. For a while it helped, but the chronic pain lingered, and my yoga practice was an unpredictable and frustrating journey of forcing myself into various shapes. In time, I discovered the philosophy of yoga that’s so much deeper than the physical poses. I learned that my practice had to start with an awareness of my mind. Then, by grounding in the breath, I could start to explore the body with curiosity and compassion.

 

Instead of figuring out how to “beat the pain,” I learned to hold it with love and grace.

 

With that as the foundation, I developed tools to navigate the discomfort and move gradually into a place of stability and eventually strength. These tools of breathwork and meditation empowered a compassion for and awareness of my body so that I could better move through times of pain and difficulty as well as seasons of joy and physical strength.

 

My desire as a teacher is to hold that same space for others, offering a container for education and insight. I am inspired by the intersection of modern science and these ancient yogic practices. When combined, they offer a deeply useful and nuanced map by which we can explore our physical and internal landscape. By weaving together powerful yoga postures, intentional breathwork, and meaningful symbolism, we step into a practice that encourages us to live and engage fully in every season of the human experience.