In case you’re wondering what all of those numbers and letters mean… I have extensive and highly-specialized experience that most yoga instructors don’t have.
This experience makes me highly qualified to help you—it’s something you simply will not find in a group class setting.
What you’ll learn from me is that asana—yoga poses—are only one of the components to all that is yoga. Yoga has seven other layers, including meditation, pranayama, self-inquiry and moral and ethical codes. I incorporate all methods of yoga, not just movement, which makes this style of yoga so unique. I have lived experience of these practices working and love creating custom plans for clients, just as I did for myself. I live and breathe yoga, every day.
C-IAYT – Certified Yoga Therapist
Yoga therapy is the professional application of the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and yoga practices for individuals or small groups. The yoga tradition views each human being as a multidimensional system that includes numerous aspects—including body, breath, and mind (intellect and emotions)—and their mutual interaction.
Yoga therapy is founded on the basic principle that intelligent practice can positively influence the direction of change within these human dimensions, which are distinct from an individual’s unchanging nature or spirit. The goals of yoga therapy include eliminating, reducing, and/or managing symptoms that cause suffering; improving function; helping to prevent the occurrence or re-occurrence of underlying causes of illness; and moving toward improved health and well-being.
Yoga therapists draw from the principles of yoga and the full range of yogic practices and assessment skills, as well as familiarity with biomedical and psychological foundational knowledge. Yoga therapists work with the client to develop and implement a self-empowering therapeutic plan2 appropriate to the client’s needs and oriented around prevention and health promotion.
An IAYT-Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) has undertaken specialized training beyond that of a yoga teacher, in accordance with the IAYT’s educational competencies for the training of yoga therapists or has met IAYT’s requirements for certification under alternate pathways.
ERYT 500
As an E-RYT-500, I have over 1,500 hours of credible yoga trainings. And over the years, I’ve taught over 5,000 hours of my unique brand of yoga. Additionally, my independent study of yoga includes well over 10,000 hours, including using these methods and techniques to save my life and live with chronic illness.
I have completed 500 of those hours of yoga teacher trainings with registered Yoga Alliance® yoga schools. Combined with my teaching experience, this certification is one of the highest levels of certification for a yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance®.
This designation is through Yoga Alliance®, the largest nonprofit association representing the yoga community. Their mission is to promote and support the integrity and diversity of the teaching of yoga; real yoga.
YACEP, Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider
I’m certified to lead continuing education classes and workshops to other yoga teachers. I’m certified to be a Lead Trainer of both 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher training programs.
Certified Therapeutic Yoga Instructor
I trained over fifty hours of Level I Therapeutic Yoga training with national instructors Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal.
The therapeutic yoga components of my one-on-one, group sessions and/or workshops are based on my Therapeutic Yoga teacher training certification and are not derived from my status as an E-RYT-500 and YACEP with Yoga Alliance®.
Functional Yoga Therapy – Advanced Assessment and Therapeutic Planning
The Functional Yoga Therapy’s Advanced Assessment & Treatment certification course that I completed incorporates techniques of ancient yoga practices, modern Structural Yoga Therapy, Integrative Therapeutic Yoga, and Ayurvedic Yoga concepts, through the Panchamayakosha model of yoga therapy. This includes advanced anatomy and physiology training and its relationship to specific structural and physiological issues within the body. Neurological re-patterning concepts and its practical uses in a therapeutic client interaction also are explored.
Certified Pranakriya Prenatal Yoga Instructor
I completed my Pranakriya Prenatal Yoga teacher training at the prestigious Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health with Jacci Reynolds while I was six months pregnant.
I subsequently wrote a prenatal yoga book, Yoga For a Peaceful Pregnancy, combining my personal pregnancy lived experience, experience teaching prenatal clients, yoga trainings and unique blend of yoga in this book.
Certified Level II Reiki Master
Reiki has three different levels of mastery, and the meanings for each level differ. A Level II reiki training focuses on practicing Reiki on others, as well as the ability to offer distance reiki – sending healing energy to someone no matter where they are. The Level II attunement expands the energy field, so more healing energy comes in. This energy is shared with all clients, near and far.
Life experience
Yoga, meditation, pranayama, spirituality and nutrition are the methods and techniques that I used to come back from the brink of death. I truly live what I teach. Read all about it here.
Continuing education
I continue my education by deepening my personal practice, immersing myself into yoga, meditation, spirituality and teaching—my students are my best teachers! Every moment in my life is a chance for presence, spiritual growth and expansion, as I become the best version of myself that I can be.
I’m an avid reader and study with National Yoga Teachers and well-respected spiritual leaders who complement my own beliefs and teachings, such as Abraham-Hicks, Sadhguru, Anodea Judith, Tara Brach, Wayne Dyer, Pema Chodron, Byron Katie, Louise Hay, Jack Kornfield, Thich Nhat Hanh, Lee Albert, Sogyal Rinpoche, Judith Lasater, Todd Norian, Judith Orloff, Sarah Powers, Sharon Salzberg, Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey, Marie Forleo, Kris Carr, Andy Frisella, Lewis Howes, Tony Robbins, Peter Levine, Don Miguel Ruiz, Vanda Scaravelli, Mel Robbins.