About

I'm originally form the UK, and had my first relaxation meditation experience back in the late 80's for  childhood complex trauma. At the time I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, but I know I felt very relaxed when I left the sessions! From there I dabbled in the Chakra's a while, and explored some of the breathing techniques I had been shown in the meditation classes. Fast forward to 1998 and I had been living in the US for 7-8 years when my Mum died very suddenly from breast cancer back in the UK. Upon returning to the US I started attending a relaxation group that was held by Group Health at the time in Seattle WA. I recalled my experience from when I had first experienced this back in the UK, and how much it had helped with anxiety and depression. While I was attending the group I also started doing yoga because of a repetitive stress injury that I acquired while I was a graphic artist. At the time I had no idea how these practices I had just started would affect and alter the course of my life. After about 2 months of practicing yoga I noticed my range of motion in my right shoulder had greatly improved, and I have continued my practice ever since 1999. I have used both my practices to deal with many different things that life has thrown at me, from physical and emotional, to the daily stresses that each of us face every day.  

My education and teaching Yoga has spanned over a decade. From the time I taught children’s yoga to my preschoolers in 2010, and teaching children and adults in studio’s, to running my own yoga business, and developing a early childhood educational yoga program called "The Young Children's Yoga and Movement Method"™. I embarked upon my educational journey in October 2012 while living in GA for a short period of time. Since then my teaching and educational journey has continued to progress. (please see qualifications at bottom of page.)

I think it's important for all yoga teachers to work within their professional scope of practice when working directly with students. Firstly, I'm not a certified Health Care Practitioner, which means I cannot diagnose or treat  a student. If you attend a class with me and ask me about your pain in your knee and what I think it might be, I'll advise that you'll need to see your Primary Health Care Practitioner. As a yoga teacher, my professional scope of practice is to help you find comfort in yoga poses that are functional, safe, and trauma informed/sensitive for you. For example, a student says my knee hurts in pigeon form, or when I'm in hero form. I will first access your alignment in the shapes/forms, and then come up with solutions for you to be comfortable in those shapes/forms. This maybe showing you certain preparatory shapes/forms, the use of props, or showing variations of the shapes/forms that will help to not cause discomfort. If however, after working with the student and they still experience pain or discomfort in the knee, I will probably suggest that you see a Physical Therapist due to my limited scope of practice! 

It's also important to realize that if you have any medical or health care concerns or issues, please discuss these with your primary health care provider before starting any exercise program...even yoga!

Therapeutic and Integrative Yoga

Although most of my training has been in the field of therapeutic, alignment, integrative and wellness yoga I'm not a certified yoga therapist. Many of the my instructors have been certified yoga therapists, and Certified Health Care Practitioners. I've been extremely fortunate to have trained with these instructors. Due to my training I have a lot of background in therapeutic, injury prevention and trauma informed and sensitive yoga, and apply what I've learned into my teaching/facilitating practice.

• RYT 200 - Atlanta Yoga Fellowship, Graham Fowler, GA 10/2012-02/2013
• Level 1, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, GA, 2013
• RCYT - Radiant Child Yoga, Shakta Khalsa, 07/2013-04/2015 
• Essential Lower Back Program, Yoga for Neck and Shoulders, Robin Rothenberg, WA 2013 & 2014
• Street Yoga, WA 2013
• Level 1, NGY Children's Yoga Teacher, WA 2014
• iRest® Certified Yoga Nidra Teacher 12/2019
• Anatomy Awareness in Asana Workshop, Julie Gudmestad PT, Portland OR 08/2018
• RYT 300 Alignment based Hatha Yoga, Rachel Lundberg, Portland OR 04/2019-03/2020
• Yoga for Osteoporosis, Dr. Loren Fishman, Portland Or 01/2020
• Yoga for Arthritis, Dr. Loren Fishman, online training 06/2020
• Accessible Yoga, Jivana Heyman, online training 06/2020
• Yoga For Healthy Aging 1.0 & 2.0, Baxter Bell MD and Melina Meza, online training 08/2020 
• A Better Way to Flow: Injury Prevention and Management, Jason Crandell, online training Dec 2021 - November 2022
• Breathing for Life, Pranayama course, Richard Miller online training Jan - Dec 2022
• iRest® Level 2, Audit, Stephanie Lopez, and Jennifer Cabanero, online training 05/2023
• TCTSY 20hr Foundational Course, online training 01/2024
• Oncology Yoga (Yoga 4 Cancer), Tari Prinster, online training Jan-June 2024
• TCTSY RYT 300hr, online September 7th 2024 - March 29th 2025

Acknowledgement

I have been truly honored to meet and train with some of the most amazing teachers over the years, and I thank them for the gift of knowledge that they so honorably bestowed upon me, heart felt thanks to – Graham Folwer, Doug Keller, Shakta Khalsa, Jennifer Cabanero, Ann Douglas, Robin Rothenberg, Richard Miller PhD, Kirsten Guest, Noel Gullini, Rachel Lundberg, Julie Gudmestad PT, Julie Mathias, Dr. Loren Fishman, Jivana Heyman, Baxter Bell MD, and Melina Meza, Jason Crandell, Stepehanie Lopez, Dr. Arielle Schwartz PhD, and Tari Prinster.

A big thank you to all my instructors at TCTSY, and my amazing mentor Priya Patel, for being there and supporting me all the time!  

I would also like to send out a big heart felt thank you and hug to my mentor Christy Fisher, from Phinny Ridge Yoga, WA., thank you for your continuous wisdom and encouragement.  I believe that continuing education is crucial to maintaining a knowledgeable teaching philosophy, and passing this knowledge onto my students.

RYT Registered Yoga Teacher, and RCYT Registered Children's Yoga Teacher (95 hour specialty designation) both are awarded by Yoga Alliance. For More information about Yoga Alliance please visit their website www.yogaalliance.org