I took my first yoga class in 1995. At the time, I felt it was a form of exercise, a bit like dancing, and the movement felt natural to me. Throughout the years, yoga has come in and out of my life, each time showing up a little differently through the various stages of my career, starting a family, and motherhood.
The one aspect of yoga that always stayed with me is the act of caregiving. Taking care of myself in a balanced way allows me to take care of those around me… my family, my friends, and my community. Having a genuine love of people from all walks of life allows me to hold space, and I take this responsibility seriously.
I never planned to one day be the owner of a yoga studio. However, so many life experiences and the people I crossed paths with prepared and led me to ownership. Along the way, I learned what to do, what not to do, how to treat people (especially when they are at their most vulnerable), and rather than strive for perfection, how to strive for excellence.
When you walk through the door, my hope is that you feel like you are coming home and that Yoga Shala is a place of respite. Welcoming you to a warm inviting space, with friendly faces happy to see you, a comfortable spacious area, and highly qualified, educated, and empathetic teachers to guide you through practice. With the heart of a servant, I aim to support my teachers, celebrate them, and encourage their growth in hopes of creating experiences that are the catalyst for transformation for every person they meet.
With a background in dance and music, and extensive studies in trauma, grief, end-of-life, PTSD, and C-PTSD, I aim to create a healing environment, with appropriate sound, breath and movement, community, and permissible touch. The heart of my teaching is a seed that was planted by my own teachers: creating accessible practices, inclusive, offering space for those with a big practice, and teaching to those who feel exposed, uncertain… reassuring all… “You Belong.”
