I have been a student of yoga since 1993. My introduction into yoga was via traditional Hatha yoga with the emphasis on asana (the physical aspects of yoga) at Ball State University with my first teacher Dee Ann Birkle. After completing my bachelor's degree in psychology, I continued to study, attending many Yoga Journal conferences and learning from a variety of great teachers. I participated in a 7-day intensive with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the area of Mindfullness Meditation that led to my Master’s study research for my MA in Wellness Management. I completed my doctorate in Health Education with A. T. Still University in 2017 with research on the effect of participation in a chair-based yoga class on the well-being of older adults.
The bulk of my training has been with Gary Kraftsow and American VIniyoga Institute. The perspectives of this lineage taught me to focus on the ever changing needs of the practitioner including physical, mental, and emotional components. I completed the two-year, 500-hour yoga teacher training through the American Viniyoga Institute (July 2005) as well as the 500-hour AVI YT training (October 2009).
My other certifications include Certified Health/Wellness coach through Wellcoaches Inc., certified personal trainer with ACSM, and licensed MT (massage) for the state of IN.
I currently teach various yoga classes around the Indianapolis area, work one-on-one wellness coaching and using yoga, provide massage, and work as an adjunct at IUPUI in the Kinesiology department. In 2017, I designed and led a 200-hour yoga teacher training program in the style of Viniyoga.
My belief is that the work I do is grounded by my own personal practice of yoga and meditation. I am a life-long learner and I continue to explore ideas and techniques that focus on ways to reduce suffering and increase our capacity for joy.