My wellness journey began in 2007, when I went to my first Bikram class. I walked out drenched in sweat, completely exhausted, but so clear-minded. The combination of the heat, mental challenge, quiet (aside from the teacher’s dialogue), and the movement was exactly what I needed to de-stress and calm my busy mind. I continued to practice regularly at a small studio in Pacifica for the next 2 years, and during that time, I experienced less physical pain, less stress, and an increase in energy. Practicing yoga motivated to me to eat healthy and take inventory of what really mattered in my life. I learned how to be mindful, to pause, let go & surrender. It was on my yoga mat that I reconnected to the most important person in my life: ME.

Yoga changed my life. To this day, my mat is a sanctuary, a sounding board, a place to cultivate mindfulness and connect to the depths of my soul. I am a dedicated student of yoga, and currently focus on the spiritual + energetic side in my personal practice. For over 10 years, I taught corporate, group and private yoga classes throughout the Bay Area, and studied with renowned teachers from various styles + backgrounds.

GRAVES’ DISEASE + AYURVEDA

In 2004 I was diagnosed with Grave’s disease or hyperthyroidism. From 2004-2011, I managed this condition with medication, routine doctor visits and blood tests. In 2009, my endocrinologist suggested radioactive iodine therapy to destroy my thyroid gland, and I was devastated. I refused to settle for this life-altering procedure without exhausting all possible options first. I sought out other healing modalities, like acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, meditation, and Ayurvedic medicine.

Along my path of holistic healing, I learned how healing eating whole foods can be, about our energetic body, and how emotions effect our well-being. Essentially, I learned that we can empower ourselves to heal if we’re willing to do the work. The road was not an easy one - it took a lot of time, patience, dedication, and grace. Through it all, I continued on with my yoga practice, incorporating yin and restorative yoga to help balance my overactive lifestyle. I was guided to change my diet, eliminating gluten + dairy, avoiding processed foods as much as possible, focusing on whole grains, fruits + vegetables. To minimize my stress levels, I constantly checked in with myself, learning how to say ‘no’ to avoid burn-out, spreading myself too thin, and shifting away from negative relationships in my life.

My thyroid levels slowly began to normalize over the course of a year, and I’m happy to say that I haven’t been hyperthyroid since 2011. I never had to go through with the radioactive iodine treatment. Today, I continue to incorporate all the holistic practices I learned along the way to maintain my health and well-being.

I believe that each modality contributed to my health, but I felt so connected to the elemental approach of Ayurveda. In 2014, I enrolled in the Clinical Ayurveda program with DeAnna Batdorff at the dhyana Center in Sebastopol. I immersed myself in Ayurvedic philosophy, history, diagnostics, pulse assessment, whole food nutrition, herbs, Aryurvedic aromatherapy, bodywork, self-care techniques, and Pancha Karma. It was in Ayurveda school where I discovered a passion for aromatherapy and harnessing the power of plants to use as remedies.

I value: balance, connection, passion, and integrity. These 4 pillars are at the root of everything I do in my life. My inner work continues, as well as my thirst for knowledge, and I integrate them as much as I can into my offerings. It fills me with joy to help others; it is my life's purpose. Off the mat, I loves spending time with my family, knitting, gardening, making time for self-care, and being in nature, especially near the ocean.