Why Yoga...

I need to move my body to feel connected and to relieve stress.  My brain is one that is constantly active and dancing and yoga have helped me  balance my life, bring me to the present moment, and ultimately slow me down. My yoga practice acts as a mirror of my daily experiences and I am constantly cultivating awareness and a commitment to my health and well being.  I have found that any risks I take with my practice will translate into other aspects of my life. I hope to empower others to connect with their bodies,  garner support from others in class, and gain awareness for positive change in their lives. Contact me for information on private sessions.

Class Descriptions

Yoga Class - My yoga classes meld my knowledge of traditional Hatha and Kundalini Yoga, Pilates, Feldenkrais, Somatics and other creative movement and contact forms.  I emphasize inquiry into the body and awareness of individual needs during the class.  Depending on the mood and student feedback, the class could go anywhere from being a vigorous vinyasa flow to gentle breathing and partner work.

Prenatal Yoga Class  - Ma Yoga is an empowering prenatal yoga technique that reinforces the inner resources and innate wisdom of the body and mind as preparation for birthing and mothering. The intense demands of birthing and mothering require a practice that is strengthening as well as restorative to body and soul. A balanced spectrum of breathing, warm-ups and asanas are included in each class. By cultivating mindfulness and awareness in the moment and participating in a community of mothers to be, a woman can begin to prepare for this exciting transformation in life.

Contemporary Dance - I utilize an array of warm-up techniques drawing from my experience with Yoga, Pilates, Somatics, and theater training. My classes range from the highly athletic to the more internally focused and can include release technique, floorwork, inversions, gestures, and improvisation.  The class culminates in a challenging phrase with plenty of room for development of personal style and performance technique.

Pranassage Practitioner - I am also a certified Pranassage Practitioner, which is a a technique I use in private sessions and small classes when students need a little TLC. Pranassage is a technique that requires the client to be completely passive and the practitioner manipulates and moves the body into yoga poses.  Great attention to alignment and release occurs as the client is able to experience the poses from the inside out.

My Yoga Journey

Q: How old were you when you started practicing yoga and why did you start? 
I had my first class as a teenager at my mother's gym when I was in high school, but did not really start to practice until college. I attended the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina and had the most amazing, strong, earthy teacher. After that I was hooked.

Q: What is your home practice like?
My personal home practice is in 10 minute spurts or mostly forcing myself to be still and breathe for a few minutes since right now I am in school for my Masters in Elementary Education, student teaching full time, and caring for my family. But I do break out yoga cards and do some fun partner yoga with my kids.  My 6 year old loves to sit in peaceful piggy meditation and my 12 year old busts into some crazy back bends.
 
Q: What is your favorite pose and why?

I love twists that realign me and rock my world. I love the release after unwinding and the focus and surrender needed to go deep into the poses.

Q: What is your least favorite pose and why? For the longest time it was chair pose. I just became so whiny about it. But now I have really come  to appreciate it power and ability to create warmth and remind me not to give

Q: What is something you enjoy to do in your spare time that has nothing to do with yoga?
 I enjoy the performing arts, especially dance and musical theater. I love having a dance party in the living room with my kids and playing cards. I love relaxing by a river or ocean, hiking and never imagined how much I would love to sit and watch the birds.