Instructor: 

My yoga journey has been a long, windy one. Back in the 1990s I was working in a high stress job and feeling all the negative effects of that on my body and my mind. I realized I needed some sort of mindful, meditative exercise and found my way to tai chi. It did wonders for calming my mind and soothing my body. I began practicing Taoist tai chi daily and continued for many years. When my husband died in 2012 everything changed. We had practiced tai chi side by side for so many years that I could not get through it alone. I’d begin, turn to my right, see an empty space where he should be, and I’d just get stuck. I could not find my next move. This happened repeatedly until I stopped trying. I still needed some sort of moving meditation so I began to look for alternatives, and decided I would give myself the gift of yoga. It took a while to get unstuck, but I found a beginning yoga class, and finally walked into a studio for the first time in 2014. It was not love at first sight. I enjoyed the act of yoga but didn’t feel like I fit in.I tried out several studios/teachers/styles before I found my yoga home at Yoga Mix (in late December 2017).

I felt at home at Yoga Mix because of the number and variety of gentle (mind-body) classes, the other participants in “my demographic” (over 60) and the welcoming atmosphere conveyed by all the staff. I began taking more and more classes, reaping more and more benefits from different teachers with different styles, finding that elusive balance between effort and ease. Yoga became an integral part of my life. At some point this also enabled me to return to daily tai chi....and even to allow a new man in my life!

I completed an intensive 200-hour teacher training course at Yoga Den in Mandarin, under the guidance of Alyson Foreacre and Michael Hibberts, and received my RYT-200. Judy Smith has been my mentor and role model at Yoga Mix. You may see some similarities in our teaching style. My approach has also been influenced by other teachers along the way, including Teresa, Kim, Jennifer, Angela, Emily, and Megan. I am indebted to them all. I feel like I have now come full circle and am blessed to be able to share the gift of yoga with others. I look forward to seeing you on the mat.