I am a Midwestern transplant, but I consider myself a Virginian because I’ve lived in Norfolk for over thirty years.

My first experience with yoga was in the early 2000s as a student at Tidewater Community College. I was a mom to two young children, a full-time Montessori teacher, and a military spouse. That first class forever changed the trajectory of my life. I found a small studio in Ocean View and completed my first 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2009.

Yoga supported me through the emotional ups and downs as I raised my kids and returned to school to complete my undergraduate degree. The physical benefits of the asana practice allowed me to decompress after long days and helped me find mental clarity.

As time passed, I became increasingly interested in yoga philosophy and how it can be a blueprint for change in body, mind, & soul. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2013, I sought a teacher to advance my yogic knowledge & studied with Angela Phillips in Virginia Beach from 2013-2014. While I advanced my teaching skills and knowledge of yoga philosophy, I was most intrigued by breathing practices that have the potential to shift our emotions and physical states. I have additional training in therapeutic yoga and myofascial release.

In 2016, I transitioned to teaching yoga full-time, teaching studio classes, corporate events, at a senior center, and Montessori high school. COVID brought all that to a grinding halt in 2020, and by then, I knew I was ready to return to school and earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling. While attending classes at Old Dominion University, I found GUD Yoga and the studio has been my yoga home ever since.

I have firsthand experience in the healing powers of many yoga practices.  I enjoy teaching well-rounded classes that are accessible to all levels of students, and often include my singing bowls in specialty classes. In addition to teaching active classes, I also teach yin and restorative yoga.

My two grown children are my greatest achievement; they make me proud daily! My eldest is a Norfolk resident, and WaHoo, like her mom, and my youngest is a recent graduate of the Chesapeake Police Academy.

When I’m not teaching yoga, you’ll find me out & about around Norfolk -- at the beach in OV, riding my bike, exploring the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, or out to dinner with friends & family.  I’m also a homebody at heart, and I enjoy staying in, knitting, and watching Netflix with my cats.