Me with our cat,
Yummers!
Me with our dog,
Stevie Wonder |
I started practicing yoga in 1994 when I was an undergraduate at Stanford University. There weren't any
official yoga classes on campus, so one of the graduate students in the Art Department started teaching us.
She had a ton of enthusiasm, humor, dedication, and energy for her practice... her classes were tough and
funny and exciting.
I am so grateful to her for introducing me to the joys and challenges of yoga!
Over the years I have studied yoga at Stanford, in Seattle Washington, in the Bay Area, and in Santa Cruz.
I love learning about all the different expressions and forms of yoga, which has led me to study Kundalini,
Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Anusara, Jivamukti, and Iyengar styles of yoga. I am always seeking out ways to continue my yoga
education - classes, books, workshops, and conferences. My first introductions to yoga all involved flowing
styles - like Ashtanga and Vinyasa. Since I'm a bit of lump when left to my own devices, all that movement
was really exhilarating for me! I received my first teaching certification from the White Lotus Foundation in
1999.
In the last few years I have been studying primarily in the Iyengar tradition with Kofi Busia. His loving
guidance and wisdom had taught me invaluable lessons about dedication, practice, self-knowledge, and teaching.
In 2004, I did a 110-hour training course with him, the bulk of which I will be mentally digesting for many
years to come.
In teaching yoga, it is my goal to impart to my students a sense of enthusiasm, curiosity, and acceptance towards
their practice. I
try to share the elements of yoga which have most held my attention, and which have helped me to feel increasingly
optimistic about myself, others, and the world at large with each year that I practice yoga. My own practice
has evolved into a complete commitment to living with the principles of yoga, following (as best as I can)
the eight fold path of yama (ethical behavior towards others), niyama (observances in one's relationship
with self), asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork and awareness), pratyahara (drawing of senses inward),
dharana (concentration and focus), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (connection beyond self).
I offer my humble gratitude to the many amazing teachers who have guided my practice over the years; most notably
Sharon Gannon & David Life, and Kofi Busia.
When I am not yoging, I enjoy spending time with
my partner Matt
(aka Musty),
our cat Yummers,
our dogs
Stevie Wonder &
Dottie Bonkers &
Snoopy,
painting, getting crafty, blogging, watching tennis, vegan food, & all creatures great and small.
Namaste
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