I found the art of breath and movement (yoga) at age 15. Hot yoga had become really big in my small town of Holland, MI. I was very into sweating and hard workouts at that age and I quickly fell in love with the vibe of the low lights, warm room, and moving my body into cool shapes with others. On and off for the next 10 years yoga came in and out of my life like a warm friend always welcoming me with open arms back on my mat. Every time I would take a class I would remember why I had come in the past.

 

Then life would happen and I'd stop going to classes once my unlimited monthly membership wore off, but the feeling I got while doing yoga asana (poses) never did. My passion for live music, community, and connecting with others through dance movement quickly became a close relationship that I felt when practicing yoga. In November 2019 I dove into my first 200-Hr Yoga teacher training at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. Going into the training thinking I was going to learn how to teach people poses, I got the wonderful surprise of digging deeper into myself with Svadhyaya (self study) than I've ever done before.

 

Between learning the origin and teachings of India, I also learned alignment and the art of pranyama ( breath work.) With that, I was hooked! After graduating the training during the pandemic, I had more than enough time to dig into some more learning.  I jumped into a 75 hour pre/post natal teacher training. After learning how much of a gift yoga is to the body, and that it is for EVERYbody, I found so much value and love in learning how to lead expecting mothers. I enjoyed the slow pace and relaxing supportive community pre-natal yoga offers. Now valuing presence and slowing down much more in my life this seemed like a perfect place for me.

 

After graduating from Pre-natal Training, I embarked on three 20-HR trainings focusing on Yin, Yoga Nidra, and Restorative Yoga. I then learned the gift of tapping into the parasympathetic nervous system - the "rest and digest" that helps restore our bodies to a state of calm so we can perform optimally in our daily life.  During this time, Michigan legalized Cannabis. I have always had a close relationship with this sacred plant medicine and would regularly combine my yoga practice with cannabis.

 

Being a proud advocate for cannabis medicine and the benefits of connecting the medicine with the body, I knew my next step was to educate myself in the art of Ganja Yoga. This training is led by the amazing Dee Dessualt.  The first Ganja Yoga teacher in the US ( and proudly a wombyn!) With that I became a Certified Ganja Yoga Instructor, and right away started leading Ganja Yoga Classes at my home studio in Michigan.

 

Putting all of my trainings aside, the true learning comes from being on my mat and tapping into my true inner voice and my highest self. Yoga has always been there for me, whether I do yoga poses everyday, or once every couple weeks. Yoga is the gift that keeps on giving. Now being based on Oahu, Hawaii, my goal is to bring my practice and easy going vibe to visitors and locals on the island. I embrace laughter and not taking yourself to seriously, and stretching to some good tunes or ocean waves! Everyone deserves to feel presence, relaxation, and knowing the true power that is within.