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About Me
I was first introduced to yoga as a young girl going to a gym with my family. Being a gymnast with a good amount of strength and flexibly, the poses came pretty natural to me. However, what really hooked me was the effect that the practice had on me internally. I can still remember the feeling of being on the borrowed yoga mat, in the crowded and dark fitness studio room, paying attention to my breath as I moved through poses and paused for stillness. Even though the room was full, I felt like I was in a place that I could truly be alone with myself.
Through the years my practice ebbed and flowed but it was always with me. Before I started college, almost on a whim, I decided I was going to travel to California to study yoga and become an instructor. There I got my 200 hour teacher training certification at Sivananda Vedanta Center. Little did I know, that decision was more than just a couple month break from life as I knew it, it was a decision that was going to influence the rest of my life. Since 2009, I have practiced and taught different styles of yoga in different scenarios. The styles have included, Sivananda hatha, gentle hatha, vinyasa flow, kids yoga, yin yoga, stand up paddle board, and yoga for recovery. No matter what kind of asana practice I am doing, I know that yoga is something that has lead me to a life of deeper meaning.
For me, yoga is about moving and listening to the body, to find a stronger connection within. It is a tool for internal discovery, a time to learn how to move from a place of intuition and truth. Staying present with breath, paying close attention to the mind and body, finding our own balance and continuing to be curious are ways we are able to unlock what serves us best and how we can live our best lives.
What Else?
Besides yoga, I run a small family homestead with my loving husband and two spirited boys. We raise dairy goats, chickens, ducks and a fairly large garden. Sustainable, local, healthful food sources are the main inspiration for this. Taking care of the animals and growing food is a wonderful practice that keeps me humble and grounded. I also grow and forage my own herbs for making and using herbal medicines.
When I need some time, just for fun, I love to paddle board, mountain bike, camp and hike. I love doing yoga outdoors and combining my practices with other types of recreation. On the best of Minnesota summer days, my favorite thing is to head to one of our many lakes for a swim.
I am also active in supporting people in my community to find their road to recovery from any type of addiction. I am a women in recovery myself and I believe yoga is a wonderful tool that can help people discover and heal from the wounds that led them to suffering and addiction in the first place.
Why Swan Song?
It is said that a swan sings its sweetest song before it dies. To me, this is a reminder that life is a gift and it is uncertain how many more days we will have. Every day we wake, we have the opportunity to sing a song that comes from our most true heart, in honor of ourselves and our unique path. Each day we have the opportunity to lay to rest what no longer serves us in life and be reborn to sing our most true song.
