Do you ever feel overwhelmed by physical challenges and wonder if you can find true balance and inner peace?
I completely understand because I’ve been there myself. My journey with yoga surprisingly began out of necessity rather than choice. I’m a hyper-mobile person, which means that flexibility has always been something that came naturally to me. But as I got older, I kept pushing my body past its limit because that’s what I was used to, not realizing the repercussions I would later experience.
This stress I was putting on my body combined with prior injuries caused my hip to be rotated out of place. My muscles were so tight that it pulled my hip out of alignment, causing it to be misaligned in three places. And despite numerous attempts to find relief through conventional treatments like daily chiropractic and physical therapy, nothing seemed to work long-term.
This struggle led me to yoga, not just as a practice, but as a lifeline. Through dedicated practice, I discovered how to strengthen my body, realign my hips, and ultimately heal myself. But what came out of that injury was more than finding a new physical practice; yoga became a way of life. I realized I had to live and do things differently so that I could heal. This experience opened my eyes to the connection I so desperately needed between my body and soul, revealing a path to true mindfulness and inner peace.
“Seeing the transformative power of yoga in my own life inspired me to share this gift with others.”
I’m passionate about helping individuals who feel trapped by their pain or limitations find relief and strength because I know firsthand how debilitating physical and emotional struggles can be. Once I saw how yoga and mindfulness healed my body and soul, I knew that this was the path I had been destined to follow. Over the last 13 years, I’ve been able to help people with scoliosis, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, hip, shoulder and knee injuries reduce inflammation, live without pain, and help them find their positive flow in life.
MY Philosophy
Before becoming a yoga teacher, I was an architect for 20 years. My engineering brain has always naturally found ways to put pieces together. Trust me, I’m a wiz at puzzles!
When I found yoga, I instantly had a different perspective on how yoga and stretching affect the body because of my architecture background. I can look at someone in a pose and instantly know if I place my thumb on their foot that it will align the entire leg all the way through their hip to give them the most relief. It’s something I intuitively know, which tells me that yoga is not just about physical postures. Yoga starts with the asana, but more importantly, it needs the mind-body connection so we can stay fully present and aware while our bodies are moving from one pose to the next.
“The true healing starts when we allow ourselves to observe the transformation in between the poses.”
Even with all of my innate methodology for yoga, my initial approach starts with allowing my students to grow at their own pace. I hold a lot of compassion for my clients, and I want them to find the acceptance to say yes or maybe no, not today. When you’re accepting where you’re at and are able to say how you’re feeling, you’re listening to your body. It’s only from this place where yoga truly starts!
With a Diploma in Architecture, I bring a unique perspective to my practice, combining structure and flow. As a 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher, Prenatal Yoga Teacher, PSUPA Paddle Board Instructor, SUP Yoga Teacher, and Level III Reiki Energy Healer, I’m able to help people create more strength within in order to succeed in everyday tasks better, have less pain, and live with less agony. My background allows me to help others live consciously because it adds to our quality of life. When we live consciously our lives feel longer and more joyful, which allows us to live a life of awareness and abundance.
IntegratingYoga withPaddle Boards
As a forever learner, I’m always trying and researching new methods to improve my client’s lives. Several years ago that curiosity led me to find the Yoga Board. It's essentially a paddle board that feels the same on land as it does on the water - just without the risk of falling and getting your hair wet or having to worry about sharks. Being on the Yoga Board allows us to feel completely present on an unstable surface so we can connect within, as the present moment is the only moment we have control over.
Since discovering the Yoga Board, it’s become an integral part of my business, teaching, and personal wellness journey. I’ve helped many people who initially thought there was no way they could balance on it, just to see their confidence grow as they learned to ground themselves from within. It’s amazing watching people learn to find comfort on the boards because letting go and finding flow on the board is the biggest shortcut to strength, alignment, and a true mind-body connection.
When I’m not teaching at Flow & Elevate, you can find me with my partner Dave at our paddle board business, Focus SUP Hawaii Ventura.