I began exploring yoga in 1997 as a counterbalance to teaching high-low impact aerobics. Living in a small, rural town, the opportunity to practice yoga was limited. I would take yoga or tai chi classes at fitness conferences, practice from articles in Shape or Yoga Journal and found Alan Fingers’ Yoga Zone on ESPN. I distinctly remember the day I woke up and walked downstairs and realized that for the first time ever, I felt at ease in my body.

The understanding of yoga, “union”, was beginning to resonate and the desire to understand wellness from a holistic perspective was further taking root. As I completed my Masters degree with an emphasis on human services, my goal was to help improve wellness to the greatest number of people possible. In my heart I felt the common denominator contributing to illness was stress, which directly related to the quality of our breathing.

As I completed my degree, all I wanted was to be a yoga teacher.  In studying Blue Zones, community wellness, resistance to change, I knew that wellness had to begin with self-love. This is what yoga allows in our life - beginning with the acknowledgement of Namaste and the inner stillness developed by connecting with breath.

My practice over the years had ebbed and flowed. Returning to the mat always improved my health.  Yoga was a gift that gave to me again and again without fail. It was with tremendous joy that I completed Dayton Method Teacher Training in 2017. It is a dream come true and a commitment to myself and my journey of lifelong learning and wellness. Join me on the mat and in exploring our true selves.