About

“This is the real secret to life - to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”

- Alan Watts

I know what you might be thinking; “Great, another hypermobile, white lady teaching yoga.” It’s okay, because I have those parts, too, and as it’s always said in Internal Family Systems Therapy, all parts are welcome here.

My interest in working with trauma survivors started at a domestic violence shelter, advocating for adults and children who were escaping abuse. Having grown up in a small, rural, white, heterosexual (you get the idea) town, many of these experiences and circumstances were foreign to me. It was the first time I really came face to face with my own privilege, and it’s led me to continue to search for, and listen to, other perspectives.

I worked with our clients to help them rediscover their inner power and voice. I helped them find different ways to identify, process, and express the emotions they were experiencing. I also uncovered a passion for behavioral change, teaching perpetrators who struggled with aggression and communication to connect with a deeper part of themselves (I guess my interest in “parts” was present even before I knew about IFS Therapy). Everyone wants to be heard and understood, and I like to think that I helped them do this in a more authentic way. I spent years educating men and women about how to improve their relationships, both with themselves, and others.

As rewarding as this work could be, it often left me feeling emotionally and physically drained. I realized that I was spending all of my energy on others, without taking time to focus on my own mind and body. So began my relationship with yoga, meditation, and fitness. I became a certified health coach and personal trainer, in order to share my restorative approach with others. Understanding the importance of caring for myself allowed me to better care for the people around me. I taught yoga to our clients in shelter, as well as the staff who worked to support them. I got a glimpse of how powerful this practice can really be.

My interest in learning about other people’s stories and experiences led me to working with people with disabilities, providing psychoeducation around healthy relationships, communication skills, and sex education. I currently incorporate yoga into many of these sessions, as a way to empower my clients and give them an opportunity to exercise choice and autonomy. It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch the developments my clients have made, and to shift my own perspective about what yoga really looks like.

I remind myself of the privilege I have to walk into almost any yoga studio and see bodies like mine (both in shape and skin color), with poses that are generally accessible to me. My hope is to create a space where others can find comfort in knowing that their story, experiences, and abilities will be appreciated and honored. With equal parts empathy and compassion, and a dash of sarcasm, we’ll work together to uncover what the healing process looks like for you.

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