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. I received my first teaching certification from the White Lotus Foundation in 1999. I have a love and appreciation for all forms of yoga - all roads lead to Rome, after all!

However, sometime around 2001 I met my true teacher, Kofi Busia, and since then he has been the biggest influence on my teaching and my home practice. His loving teaching and wisdom through the methodology of Iyengar yoga have taught me invaluable lessons about dedication, practice, self-knowledge, and teaching. With Kofi's guidance, I have been assisted in finding qualities, strengths, spaces, and feelings in myself that were previously unknown to me. Some of these qualities were hidden from me by physical habit, others by genetics, and many others by emotional patterns of fear or doubt. Surely there is still much to be uncovered! In 2004, I did a 110-hour training course with him, much of which I am still digesting! I cannot fully express my love and gratitude for Kofi and all that he has taught me, and all that he has helped me to discover for myself.

In the past several years I have also benefitted tremendously from online studies with Christina Sell. Her precision in instruction and sequencing skills, her qualities of vitality and sincerity, and her innate gift of clarity in teaching have been hugely influential in my practice and in my teaching. I am so grateful for her.

In teaching yoga, it is my goal to impart to my students a sense of enthusiasm, curiosity, and dedication 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 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).

When I am not yoging, I enjoy spending time with my partner Matt (aka Musty), our cats Yummers and Footie, our dogs Stevie Wonder & Dottie Bonkers & Snoopy, painting, traveling, getting crafty, vegan blogging, watching tennis, vegan food, & all creatures great and small.