I stumbled into yoga in 1993, at university for physical ed credits. It was fun, challenging, and I felt oddly peaceful from practicing. I was drawn to the richly layered interplay of the physical /spiritual possibilities in the practice of mindful moving, living, loving, breathing and relaxation.

After years of exploring various styles of classes and teachers, I found my first primary teacher in 1997. Mary Paffard began to inspire me into rich depths of potent practice using my own body wisdom as the ultimate guru. Through a combination of Vipassana meditation, “natural breath” inquiries, and asana, both traditional and experimental, I experienced a strength of hope, ability and integration that I was surprised and pleased with. I realized the practice feeds itself when we “get out of the way” of our innate wisdom.

Yoga helps to cultivate a sense of grace, coordination, acceptance, and gives rise to strength, mental clarity, composure and calm. There literally is no thing in life that is does not touch in it’s breadth of discipline. It is non-dogmatic at the heart of teachings and can be modified for everyone.

This unprecedented ability to affect change regardless of level, ability or background inspired me to dive in. In 2000, I entered the teacher training at Rodney Yee’s Piedmont Yoga Studio in Okaland CA. This 675 hour program was pivotal in engaging my practice more deeply and cultivating my desire and ability to teach. I continued my training programs with Yoga Mendocino’s 650 hour advanced program. I began teaching in earnest in 2001 in a variety of places, especially where yoga was not yet present.

In 2004, I joined up with the Mind Body Awareness Project in San Francisco CA. This project serves “at-risk” youth, primarily incarcerated kids who are desperate for options to their dead-end lives. I’ve worked in Alameda, San Mateo, San Francisco and Mendocino counties’ juvenile halls. I’ve also worked in jails as an outreach teacher/coordinator. My passion for seeing and guiding people in change inspires me in these unusual settings, and I continue to work with private clients, in studio settings and traveling to teach around the world.

My “unbranded” hatha style allows you to find what works best for you. I have been influenced by Iyengar, vinyasa, Ashtanga, Jivamukti and Viniyoga, Vipassana meditation, multi-cultural philosophy, Body-Mind Centering, Buddhism and Feldenkrais. My teaching is explorative, detailed, and supportive. I enjoy precision in alignment and attitude based on individual assessment. I enjoy working with beginners, athletes and martial artists, those with injuries and cultivating home practice. I meet my students where they are and adjust my style and language accordingly.

I thank my teachers deeply, primarily Mary Paffard, Angela Farmer, Ajahn Amaro, and the many that have dedicated themselves to this broad path.

Namaste