I first started yoga back in college. As I walked into my first class, I remember thinking – you want me to be quiet for 90 minutes, not speak, find my center, and do these weird-looking postures? There is no way!!! Little did I know that that class would change my life. I immediately fell in love with yoga.

It was more physical for me in my early years of practice and a way I learned to manage my thoughts and quiet my mind. It became my hour of solace, a place to escape the world, my chattering mind, and find peace. I grew up playing sports and loved that even in the hot room, I could still challenge myself to master postures and try new ones. It became a space where I learned to not compete with anyone else but only focus on myself, not what was happening around me.

After college, I worked in a string of high-stress jobs with long hours. At this time, I started to lean on my practice to help me find joy, peace, solace, self-care, love, and stillness in a very busy life.

Around that time, I decided to get my 200-hour teaching because yoga impacted my life, way of thinking, and living so much; I wanted to share it with other people. I wanted others to experience the life-changing effects of yoga and for them to be able to come to my class. and whatever they needed from that hour, I could provide them with space and guide them through the practice to help them achieve whatever they sought.

After being diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer and spending six years fighting cancer, yoga became my center in this journey. I started living yoga in a way I had never before, and the mat helped me through some of the most difficult times. It didn’t matter if I felt I had conquered a new advanced posture or meditated on my mat for 60 minutes; it was my time, practice, and safe space. Yoga was my therapy and place to come to heal. This transformation and health journey led me to my 300-hour teacher training, and in the end, would make me a 500-hour certified teacher in hopes of reaching more people. I wanted to continue growing my knowledge to become a better teacher, provide the best classes for students, and integrate this passion and love for yoga into my everyday life.

I love sharing this practice with people and hope it helps impact others how it has impacted me.