I have been teaching yoga since 1997 and have been a yoga teacher trainer since 2004. In addition to postures and breathing, I especially love Sanskrit, chanting and applying the principles and concepts of yoga to everyday life. My primary spiritual teachers have been Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) and Cheri Huber. Unconditional acceptance is the center of my understanding and teaching of yoga. When I teach, I like to share my curiosity, enthusiasm and humor while inviting students to explore and challenge themselves in the spirit of deep self-study.
I received my master's degree in social work from UCLA in 1996 and have worked with people of all ages facing a wide range of challenges and conditions. For over ten years, I worked exclusively at The Samarya Center, using a yoga-based therapy approach called Integrated Movement Therapy®. I have been the lead IMT trainer and supervised many IMT therapists. Currently, I am training in Somatic Experiencing®, which is a body-oriented therapy that blends well with IMT and yoga.
I am a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, Yoga Alliance and the National Association of Social Workers. I am a licensed independent clinical social worker in the state of Washington.