ABout

I was overworked, overwhelmed, and burnt out when I found yoga. I was living off of survival instincts, constantly in a state of fight or flight. Yoga classes quickly became my safe haven to relax, decompress, and feel a little bit more like myself. Twice a week for an hour, I felt at ease. The rest of the time I was go, go, go. This pattern continued on for years. Work too hard, fall on my face, spend months picking up the pieces, wonder what went wrong, repeat.

Prior to becoming a yoga instructor, I worked in the service industry. I was a waitress for seven years, bouncing from job to job. Eventually I landed a job at a luxury hotel. I was convinced I had “made it”. It became my goal to get to the top, no matter how long it would take. It took three years before I finally hit my breaking point.

I was so focused on moving forward in life, I never took the time to slow down and check in with myself. What direction did I actually want my life to go in? What was it that spoke to me? What was I to do next? I thought about what brought me joy, what kept my head above water during rough times, what made my life better.

Yoga. Yoga did all of those things. And yet I was afraid. Afraid to take the leap, to bet on myself. Worried I didn’t have the confidence to fail and try again. Absolutely terrified of confronting the biggest barrier that stood stubbornly in my way.

Myself.

It took time and a LOT of patience to begin reshaping the old mindsets that were holding me back. I was convinced that work had to be “work”. Work had to be hard. Convinced that doing something enjoyable for work would somehow ruin it. I couldn’t bear the thought of yoga, my safe haven, becoming my livelihood. I would be left naked, vulnerable, and void of a safe place to run back to.

After much self-reflection and inner work, I quit my job, packed up my bags, and headed to Spain to complete my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. What a transformative time. Becoming a yoga instructor has opened up my mind and world in ways I never could have imagined.

Now, I strive to provide a safe space for others to slow down and reconnect with themselves because I know how it feels to be in that space. I have never forgotten that feeling of being disconnected. That feeling of needing to run, of not being at ease, feeling like life was flying by without me and there was nothing I could do to stop it. No way I could ever catch up.

Learning to slow down has given me back so much time. It has made life enjoyable again. The gift of slowing down is one that I will spend a lifetime passing on to others. Teaching how to ground in the present moment, to love ourselves exactly as we are. Holding space for the duality of humanity, for our flaws and our favorite qualities to coexist peacefully.

I believe that we all deserve to feel comfortable and at ease. To feel at home in our bodies. To show up wholeheartedly as our best selves every damn day. To feel like life is worth living.

To feel absolutely radiant ✧