I believe a better world is possible, but that we must first find peace within ourselves before we can create it in our world.

My mission is to empower people to feel better in their body, to learn to soothe the mind through the breath and movement, and to be able to function in their daily activities without pain.

I started practicing yoga when I was in high school. I didn’t love it right away, but there was a sense of peace that I started to feel that kept me coming back. I continued to practice yoga as I moved to Chicago to study Cultural Studies at Columbia College, and as I graduated and moved back to Michigan to be with my (then) boyfriend (now husband). In 2014, I completed the 200 hour teacher training to become a Registered Yoga Teacher at Spirit Rising Yoga & Meditation in Brighton. During this time I also worked as a preschool and toddler teacher.

I took up paddle boarding and loved the connection of balance, strength, and being in nature, on the water. Yoga on a board felt like a natural fit. In 2015, I traveled to Chicago to complete a stand up paddleboard (SUP) yoga teacher training, which included Level 1 instructor training with the World Paddle Association. Later that year I started teaching SUP yoga in Ann Arbor. In 2017, I co-founded Root SUP, a paddleboard company that offers weekly SUP, SUP yoga classes, and paddle events in the Ann Arbor area. In 2019, I furthered my paddle education and became a Level 1 & 2 SUP Instructor through the American Canoe Association, as well.

Throughout the years I have taught gentle yoga classes, paddleboard yoga, alignment style classes, yoga for beginners, and kids yoga. I have also taught private yoga classes to clients with various neurological, cognitive, and physical deficits. I love adapting yoga and finding new ways of creating strength and peace of mind. Yoga has helped me to feel better in my body and in my mind. It has helped me to lessen my anxiety and build self efficacy, tools that I am honored to bring to my students as well.

In 2019, I started the Master of Science Occupational Therapy program at Eastern Michigan University, where I have learned a lot about anatomy and neuroanatomy and found a lot of carry over to yoga. It helped me to better understand yoga poses, how to adapt them for every body, and how to use yoga to create functional strength and flexibility. In 2021, I graduated and gave birth to my first child. I now work as a school occupational therapist at an elementary school and high school.