What do you love about yoga?
The exhale, the release, the stillness. The invitation to just breathe, just be, without expectation.
What are you working on in your own practice?
Presence. Yoga always brings me back to myself when I feel disconnected, stressed, worried, or sad. It has allowed me to feel joy more deeply too. Whether it's rolling out my mat at the studio or at home, or meditating and sharing in community at our Recovery Dharma meetings, my yoga practice helps me stay present in my life -- at home, at work, when my kids are trying my patience!
When you're not practicing yoga, what do you like to do?
I am a working mom, so that keeps me busy. Whenever I can, I find myself drawn to language and words—books, song lyrics, and writing my own, whether in my journal or on my Substack, hearth + lantern. I really appreciate a beautifully turned phrase, especially when it's carried by a melody that stays with me even after the music stops.
What’s something you found at Vira that you want to pass on to your students?
A community that supports me in building a home inside myself. Whether I am there for a yoga class or a Recovery Dharma meeting, I can walk into Vira and just be me. I want my students to feel the same way when they walk into (and out of) my class.
What do you want students to experience in your class?
More than anything, I want my students to experience a sense of coming home to themselves. My hope is they leave feeling a little more grounded, a little more connected, and reminded that they don't have to earn rest or prove anything on their mat. I hope my class becomes a place to soften, to breathe, to learn about themselves and meet themselves with a sense of compassion and self-trust.
What and who are your biggest sources of inspiration?
My kids teach me something new every day. Sometimes the things they say stop me in my tracks and really make me think, and I am grateful for those lessons. Also, my husband and my friends, or anyone who likes learning. I love surrounding myself with people who are really curious and passionate about life.