It all begins with the breath.

My teaching style is deeply rooted in alignment based principles blending classical yoga and meditation practices with contemporary exercise science and fitness methods to establish optimal health, wellness, fitness and spiritual awareness. My classes are a playful mix of dynamic vinyasa flow integrating alignment, core work, breathing techniques as well as basic entry level poses.

I encourage students to find the balance between ease and effort, strength and surrender in each sequence. I teach that yoga is more than poses, it’s a mindset helping us navigate the highs and lows of the daily grind. It’s good for our mental health and wellness and helps us navigate the complexity of the human condition.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START PRACTICING YOGA?

WHAT KEPT YOU COMING BACK TO YOUR PRACTICE?

I started practicing yoga in the early 2000’s while training for a marathon. I found that yoga was quite complimentary to all the long distance running I was doing. I think yoga really found me when I was a stay at home mom. I was taking back to back classes then because I had the luxury of time and free childcare at In Motion Fitness and desperately needed to get back in touch with my body and have something of my own outside motherhood.

WAS THERE A MOMENT WHEN YOU KNEW YOU WANTED TO BECOME A TEACHER? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO A TRAINING AND HOW DID IT GO?

I am a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) at the 200-hour level through Northern California Yoga Institute and have been teaching since 2009. My dear friend Kamie Loeser inspired me to participate in her first ever teacher training program here in Chico. Initially I was reluctant because I had no desire to teach but felt it was a great opportunity to deepen my own practice. It was one of the most incredible experiences and after 9 months I knew I was meant to teach yoga. I got hired at In Motion Fitness, then Chico Sports Club and taught at both gyms until I started my own business in 2013.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO’S NEW TO YOGA WHO NEEDS HELP STARTING OUT?

I always advise anyone new to the practice to simply start where they are and their body and practice will meet them there. Whatever is going on with someone physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually is where they push off from. It might seem foreign at first but in time the practice will seem attainable. Approach it one breath at a time.