I had been practicing yoga as a student for about 15 years when I made the decision to participate in a Women’s Wellness retreat in 2018 that changed my life. It was there that I met like-minded people and began to feel that I connected with my people, my tribe.  The following year, several women from the Women’s Wellness retreat and I attended a Yoga & Wellness Retreat in Costa Rica.  This experience left an indelible mark on my life and my soul. Surrounded by the lush jungles and beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, I learned more about yoga, Reiki and other holistic healing modalities which nurtured my whole Self.  I found the yogic practices healing to my body, mind, and spirit.  The COVID-19 pandemic offered an opportunity for deep self-reflection, and it was during this time that I decided to become a yoga teacher.  I completed my yoga teacher training (YTT) through My Vinyasa Practice in October 2020.

​

Becoming a yoga teacher felt like a natural transition for me, given my educational and professional background.  It has always been important to me to listen deeply to those I am serving and make connections to what you may need based on organic conversations. I believe in nourishing the body by creating a safe space to slow down, truly rest and go inward. I understand that life can be busy and pull you in many different directions which often causes a disconnect from your body, mind and spirit. Therefore, I am passionate about fostering an environment dedicated to prioritizing slowing down and reconnecting through movement and breath.  I believe there is no “perfect” or “right way” to practice yoga and that yoga is for all bodies no matter the shape, size and ability. 

​

After the unexpected death of my mother in 2021, I decided to focus my attention on sharing yoga and holistic healing with the community.  An integral part of this journey was finding tools to help me navigate the unfamiliar, and oftentimes, misunderstood nuances of grief.  Although I had many people supporting me, I noticed that it was difficult for folks to do so.  Fear of saying the wrong thing or causing me to cry were at the forefront of their minds.  

​

Through my own loss, I realized that our culture doesn’t provide adequate space for talking about death, dying and grief.  As a result, people in our community are unprepared and ill-equipped to handle it, whether for themselves or in supporting others. This is one of the primary reasons I have decided to turn my pain into purpose by becoming a Certified Grief Educator, trained by David Kessler. This certification, many years of professionally serving survivors of traumatic grief, my integration of holistic healing practices, and my personal journey with grief allows for a unique, interdisciplinary, and well-informed approach to serving those who are grieving. 

​

My intention is to change the narrative around grieving and help serve others experiencing grief through education and support.  I hope to create an abundance of space to normalize talking about death, dying and grief, which in turn may help to create a community where people can easily find the support they are seeking. What you are feeling and experiencing is normal; there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to grieve.  There is nothing wrong with you and your grief is not a problem to be solved.  I see you and I support you and it would be an honor to walk with you on this journey.