Exploring the body through movement, stillness, and sound has been a part of my journey since childhood. I attended my first formal yoga class in 1995 and fell in love instantly with the practice as a way to integrate my interests in dance, meditation, and self-exploration. Yoga has since provided me with a powerful tool for self-study and healing- physically, emotionally and spiritually.
I've spent most of the last 8 years traveling in Asia, primarily India and Nepal, studying and teaching yoga and meditation, as well as spending long periods in silent retreat. I have worked extensively with numerous teachers including Angela Farmer, Shiva Rea, Sarah Powers, Nischala Joy Devi, Judith Lasater, Ana Forrest, and Tias Little. I am certified to teach vinyasa, yin, restorative, and general therapeutic yoga. In addition, I am a certified instructor in "Yoga of the Heart" for cardiac and cancer care patients, and also instruct on the techniques of the Shakti-evolved Trance Dance. My practice and teaching are deeply connected to the vipassana meditation practice and to my involvement in the Gurdjieff work.
In 2004 I cared full time for my mother as she underwent treatment for leukemia. During this time I began to study how yoga can be adapted for various physical challenges and as a way to prevent and heal from life-threatening illness. I now specialize in working privately with clients both at home or in hospital and hospice settings as part of their healing process. It is a great joy and important part of my practice to share the more restorative, healing aspects of yoga, as well as invigorating and transformative prana vinyasa sequences, and meditative internal explorations of the energetic body and inner life.
Lately I've been delving more deeply into bodywork and am now a certified massage therapist through the Esalen Institute. In addition to my studies at Esalen, I am also trained in deep tissue and Rosen Method. I am particularly adept at working with shoulder and neck issues and freeing the breath, as well as lower back and hip issues, but find the work I do is effective in releasing a wide range of tensions and injuries. My style is both deep and nurturing and I take particular care to tailor the session to the needs of the client. I have found it particularly effective to combine massage and yoga either through passive stretching during a massage session or by combining successive yoga and massage sessions. My goal is always to provide tools so that the client can continue the process of unwinding, healing, and making a deeper internal contact on their own.
Biography