My yoga journey started much later in life when I joined a gym that had kickboxing (which I loved), but then the kickboxing classes were cancelled.  I decided to see what other classes were offered at the same time. Yoga was the class they offered.  I went into class not knowing what to expect. I had many thoughts throughout the class including, “what is this?”, “this is not what I normally do”, “what does “breathe into the pose” mean?”, I want to leave, but I can’t that would be rude, I will complete this class, but I am not coming back.  Well, by the end of class I realized yoga was just what I needed. Fast forward a few months; the yoga instructor was leaving (she taught other classes, too). The management asked me if I would consider teaching her classes. I was overwhelmed, thrilled and scared, but I said, “yes”, knowing that I would need training. I started going to yoga training and started teaching as I went. My goal was to earn my 200-hour yoga teaching training (YTT), but life happened including me leaving the gym in October 2014, thus my pursuit of my 200-hour teacher training ended, also.

Fast forward to April 2015, a friend invited me to a 80-minute Sumits class. WOW, it was hot, difficult and rewarding. That was the beginning of me getting back to the mat, I joined Sumits and have been practicing here since that fateful April.  Fast forward further to fall 2023, I started to research on starting my training again with the same company I started with; however, most of the trainings were not close to Columbia and not all the classes that I needed for my certification were being offered.  In addition, the cost would be the classes plus lodging, food, and transportation.  Luck would have it that Sumits was looking at offering 200 YTT in 2024-2025. I decided that joining YTT at Sumits was the answer to completing my 200 YTT (hopefully with some people I knew). The location was great, and I loved the schedule…the universe was in alignment.

YTT was an awesome experience, and I am so glad I completed, and I will have the opportunity to guide fellow yogis through practice. I love yoga because it is for everyone and everyBODY and I want everyone to feel welcome and included.  I always seem to get exactly what I need from each practice even when entering my practice, I don’t know what I need…. I leave the room finding I got exactly what I needed…. physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Yoga is always here no matter what is going on in life, all the ups, downs, twists, turns mountains and valleys. I hope each yogi gets exactly what they need when practicing yoga. I look forward to continuing to learn from and with each of you. Remember you are awesome, worthy, and loved… hope to see you on your mat soon.