Birthplace? Colorado 

When did you move to OZ ? 2010

What’s your signature dish?  Mango Salsa and Veggie Fajitas 

Tea or Coffee? Tea

Cat or Dog? Both! 

Star Sign? Cancer

What quote do you live by?
Louise Hay — ‘How you start your day is how you live your day. How you live your day is how you live your life.’

What Yoga style do you practice? Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga and Yin

How did you start yoga?
I did my first yoga class ever when I was 16 through my dance school, but my real love for yoga started when I was 19 and in massage school in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I started with Ashtanga and Iyengar and immediately noticed the powerful influence it had on calming my anxious young soul, helping me sleep better and reducing the symptoms of my autoimmune disorder. I was hooked and practiced mostly Hatha and Ashtanga solidly for 8 years before doing a teacher training. I discovered the magic of Yin right here at Qi with the lovely Mysan and did her first Yin Yoga training in Manly. 

Can you sum up what Yoga gives to you in a few words?
The ability to create a sanctuary within, no matter where I am or what is happening. 

When and where did you do your first Teacher Training?
I did my first teacher training in India at Yoga Vidya Gurukul near the city of Nasik in northern Majarashra. 

Favourite pose?
Savasana! haha 😉 As dynamic practices go I love sun salutations as a whole and the magic of breathing mindfully and slowly with movement. For yin or restorative I love supported fish pose or a supine spinal twist. I probably do both of those every day. 

Least favourite pose?
Chair pose, Utkatasana 

If you could study with any teacher, who wold it be and why?
I’d love to study with Shiva Rae. She combines a beautiful, strong dynamic practice with the soft grace of flowing mindful movement and teaches from her heart. 

Best in-class blooper?
Adjusting someone in plow pose and causing them to let out a big fart in class! Having a crazy hip hop song come in the middle of a yin class then tripping over someone as I ran to the speaker to turn it down. hahaha 

Lululemon or Dharmabums?  Both! 

Where would be your ultimate Yoga retreat destination?
I love running retreats in Bali but I’ve got my eyes on taking my next retreat to Hawaii. 

What do you love most about your job?
Bringing positivity and mindfulness to people’s every day life. 

What have you given up to teach yoga?
My degree is in Environmental Science and I worked in that sector for a few years after I graduated, always dreaming of just teaching yoga, traveling and working in the wellness space.
It didn’t take long for me to realise the office and corporate space wasn’t for me, so I gave it up easily and ran off to teach yoga at an eco resort in Mexico. 

What have you gained by teaching yoga?
Getting to know such a beautiful, vulnerable and open side of humanity. I feel honoured every day to share space with others in this way. I’ve also gained an endless amount of tools to support my life and health, mentally, physically and spiritually. I feel soooooo lucky to have these tools at my fingertips and feel like it’s not just a job but a passion to empower other people with these tools. 

If you could talk to your pre-yoga self, what would you tell her?
My pre-yoga self was a teen suffering from an auto-immune disorder and distrusting her body. I would tell her everything is going to be OK, and when you discover yoga and Ayurveda you’ll start to come back into balance and joy. You’ll learn how to support your body, mind and heart to be healthy and happy and you’ll learn how to listen to and trust yourself, your body and your intuition. All the confusion of being unwell or life will be so much easier to deal with the tools you’re soon to learn. Don’t worry. Just listen to your breath and let it deepen. All is coming. 

What hobbies/activities do you have outside yoga?
Surf, mountain trekking, guitar, reading, poetry, dancing, salsa dancing, traveling and being in nature in any way. 

How long have you taught at Qi?  Since 2011.