Ten years ago I signed up for a class called “Yoga and Meditation,” unaware of the impact it would have on my body, mind and spirit.  I noticed the benefits immediately, the stilling of my thoughts, the expanding awareness of my body and my growing faith in something greater than myself.  My interest in Yoga and Meditation had been sparked and I knew this was only the beginning of a very long journey.  After the course finished, I tried most styles of yoga. It was the positive, subtle changes that led me to unroll my mat day after day.

That said, I took a hiatus from Yoga to travel in Europe and live in Italy.  I will wholeheartedly admit that drinking wine and eating gelato became much more important than deepening my yoga practice.  However, upon my return I dove back into yoga during a time when I needed it the most.  During a period of my life marked by chaos and uncertainty and feelings of depression and anxiety, it was my yoga practice that helped heal my body, mind and heart.  Somewhere between deepening my breath and standing in Warrior one, I started to feel okay in my own skin. Dedicating myself to a practice of balance, awareness and compassion helps me handle the emotional stresses of life and pursue a life of health and joy.   I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for this practice and have devoted myself to learning how to use the practice of Yoga to heal, empower and inspire others.

After years of developing a consistent practice, I earned my 200-hour teacher training certification through Integrative Yoga Therapy with Joseph & Lillian LePage.  Since then, I’ve completed Shiva Rea’s “Embodying the Flow” teacher training course, Ana Forest’s Advanced Yoga Teacher Certification, Ananda Yoga’s Prenatal and Postnatal Teacher certification in addition to various workshops, continuing education and conferences along the way.  In 2006, I became a therapeutic massage practitioner, certified by the Body Therapy Center.  This training expanded my knowledge about anatomy, therapeutic touch and the connection between the body and the mind.  Since the completion of my Masters degree from Santa Clara University in Counseling Psychology, I’ve obtained the 3,000 hours needed to be licensed by the state of California in Marriage, Family Therapy.  I am currently in the process of studying for my MFT Exam to become a Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist. For the last four years, I’ve counseled troubled adolescents, working therapeutically with a wide range of disorders and difficulties.  Together, Yoga, Massage, and Psychotherapy intertwine beautifully and highlight the essential unity of the body, mind and spirit.

I would like to extend my gratitude and love to all those who have guided and supported me on this path.  This includes the inspiration and guidance of Jan Hutchins, Samantha Mathews, Kenny Graham, Ana Forrest, Rusty Wells as well as numerous other teachers along the way.