My Yoga Journey

While I practiced ballet and dance throughout my childhood and high school years, it wasn't until my early twenties that I took my first yoga class while living in Orlando, FL. Initially, yoga was simply a physical exercise for me. At that time, there wasn't a strong yoga presence in the town where I lived, so I practiced at home with a couple of yoga DVDs I owned (thank you, Rodney Yee!). Yoga wasn't a significant part of my life back then. I would practice sporadically, loving it when I did, but eventually falling out of the routine.

It was a tragic time in my life, marked by the loss of my husband to cancer, that brought me back to the practice of yoga. While experiencing deep grief, barely able to leave my couch, a dear friend invited me to join her for a yoga workshop series with Laura Teal at a local studio, Studio Mantra in Austin, TX.

That workshop proved to be a profound turning point. I discovered that yoga was much more than a physical practice—it offered healing and transformation for the mind, body, and soul. Wanting to learn more, I began researching yoga teacher trainings. In 2018, I embarked on a 200-hour trauma-informed teacher training with Angie Knight, which turned out to be a life-changing experience.

Surrounded by a supportive teacher and a group of fellow students, the training proved to be incredibly healing during that challenging period of my life. Shortly after completing my training, I began teaching corporate yoga to a software company where I taught for a few years. Additionally, I started substituting and eventually teaching my own class at the studio where I took that transformative first workshop, now known as Mantra Yoga Collective.

In 2022, feeling ready to take the next step in my yoga teaching journey, I enrolled in a 300-hour advanced yoga teacher training. I sought out a program that aligned with my values and found it in Embody Yoga's Roots Teacher Training with Susanna Barkataki. This intensive training delved into yoga philosophy, history, and the intersection of yoga and social justice. I had the privilege of learning from a diverse and knowledgeable group of guest teachers who inspired me on a profound level. Gratitude fills my heart for all the teachers and mentors who have guided me along this path.

As a yoga teacher, my mission is to create a space for students to embark on their own transformative journeys, just as I have. Drawing from my own experiences, I aim to guide and support individuals of all backgrounds and abilities as they explore the holistic benefits of yoga.