What do you remember the first time you took a yoga class?

Savasana! It was the first time I experienced a “witnessing self.”  That there’s me who goes about the world doing things, and there’s a part of me that witnesses that experience.  It was a profound sense of peace and calm that I had never experienced before.

Did you have a favorite Yoga instructor when you were a practicing yoga student? How did that instructor help you in your yoga practice?

Yes, my first teacher from the classes I described above. The way he guided us through savasana left me feeling an indescribable sense of peace that I had never experienced before. It was such a profound experience that reinforced my emphasis on an extended savasana and guided relaxation in the classes that I now teach.

What led you to pursue yoga teacher training?

First and foremost, to deepen my own understanding of the practices. I wanted a deep dive in, not only the physical practices, but the philosophy and routines associated with a holistic yoga practice. This led me to complete my first yoga teacher training at Atma Bodha Yoga Studio in 2010. I went on to complete additional trainings with Hari Om Yoga School in Costa Rica, Laughter Yoga at Yogaville, and Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant Certification at the American Institute of Vedic Studies.

Define Yoga in your terms?

Alignment of your thoughts, words, and actions in daily life.

If a person is brand new to yoga, what advice would you give that person?

You do not need to be flexible to practice yoga. The biggest barrier I see to people trying out yoga is that they feel like they’re not “good at it” because they’re not flexible. Here’s the thing though – there’s no such thing as “good at it.” Just show up, do the work, and know that it’s a continual practice. It will look and feel different on a daily basis and that’s completely okay.

We all have superpowers when we are doing what we love…what is your yoga superpower?

Honoring my body’s needs. When you’re in a yoga class, the teacher is simply a facilitator and guide. The ultimate teacher though is your own body. So, in my own practice, I continually journey back to myself, to tuning in and honoring my body’s needs.

At Coastal Pilates and Yoga we are incorporating the healing modalities of heat, sound and colored light (chromotherapy) into our practice of chromoyoga. Tell me about your first experience in the room, what surprised you or stuck with you after that first session?

I instantly dropped into a serene space within myself.

Chromotherapy (color light therapy) is a healing modality that can improve the health of the body and mind. Explain how you weave color therapy into your yoga sessions.

I weave color therapy into my yoga sessions to align with the tone and energy of the poses that we are going through.

Often the color we are most attracted to is the color we need. Do you have a color that you just seem to release into when doing chromo yoga?

Purple!

Do you have a favorite pose while in that color?

Extended child’s pose

What can a student expect when they join you for a yoga class here at Coastal Pilates and Yoga?

A gentle class that encourages you to honor your body’s needs, tune into your intuition, and experience a sense of peace and calm.

Tell me what you do when you are not teaching yoga?

Dance! I’m passionate about exploring different ways to cultivate my mind-body connection and recently that’s led me to dance. I’ve been taking ballet and modern dance classes. I’m also the founder of Radiant Living Institute where I partner with high-achieving women to help them navigate life transitions through private coaching, speaking engagements, and my podcast called Essential Self-Care.