I want to be the light for those who can’t see their own within them. Yoga to me is a soul searching practice. It’s so much more than poses on a mat. Yoga is about balancing the mind, body and spirit and experiencing overall wellbeing. It is a peace of mind and happiness wherever you are in life. I got the passion to teach because I couldn’t get enough of the enlightened state I received after a yoga class and I wanted to be able to give that others. I grew up in New Brighton, a suburb of Minneapolis. I took my first yoga class with my mom at LA fitness when I was 17. I had no idea what I was doing but I enjoyed it so much we made a weekly routine of it. Once I graduated, I went to the Minneapolis Community and Technically College (MCTC) where I took a yoga class as my phy-ed credit. At the time I had no passion to teach, I was just wandering through class to class trying to find something I could make a career out of. My instructor asked if I have ever considered teaching. She saw the potential within me before I ever saw it in myself. It wasn’t until a couple of years later after spending a summer in Portland Oregon that I went back to MCTC for my Yoga Teaching Certificate. She lit a spark that became a fire years later. I love nature and being outdoors. If I ever have the opportunity to teach outdoors I will definitely take it. I love to hike, bike, take my dog out for a long walk around the lake, play disc golf or just enjoy the sun. In the winter I snowboard with my husband and sometimes we go ice skating. I have a traveling spirit and I always want to go somewhere new. I love trying and learning new things. I am also a very creative person. I like to paint, craft, and draw. I’m a problem solver and a go getter. I value respect and honesty and I believe you should always treat people the way you wish to be treated. My classroom is a judge free zone where you will never feel shamed. Everyone is in a different place in their journey and we should celebrate our differences instead of comparing ourselves to each other. Sometimes the mirror is a great tool to use to correct form but it can also be a distraction. Sometimes what we need is to look inside ourselves to find balance. I’m a flexible teacher and can either tone the pace down or jump it up depending on the energy level of the class. Beginners are always welcome and encouraged. My practice is usually includes vinyasa flow sequences which just means linking movements with the breath. The breath is a powerful tool and if channeled to its full potential it can greatly affect your yoga practice. Yoga has many different definitions depending on who you ask but to me, yoga means peace and balance between mind, body, and spirit. It means applying yoga off the mat as well, such as diet, routines, mindset, spirituality, and relationships with others as well as others ourselves.