My Teaching Philosophy

I teach and lead asana focused yoga practices that are culturally aware, body positive, and trauma informed. My goal is to engage and entertain your mind while we get your body moving. I work with you to use a combination of traditional practices and modern medical knowledge to inspire your best self.

If you’re joining me for yoga, I have a few rules of engagement that I am trusting you to follow.

Practice ‘in your own room’, according to the 15th century words of Svatmarama. Nothing is gained by comparing yourself to others, we’re all practicing our own yoga. Even though I may be giving you corrections, strive not to become reliant on my adjustments, you will learn to feel for yourself when you’re doing the poses correctly.

Recognize that yoga is not a magic spell. There’s no supernatural benefit or light from above when you get the pose perfect. Understand there is no such thing as a perfect pose, but injuries are very real if you’re not honoring your body. Patanjali tells us that a yoga posture is comfortable and stable. Use props and modifications whenever you need to make the poses comfortable and stable for yourself, anything else isn’t yoga. I will tell you the same thing my teachers told me: “No pain, no pain.” And I will add “No strain, no strain.”

Asana or pose drawings depict how you would do the asanas if you were a drawing. Since you’re not, find the sweet spot that makes them feel good right now. Trust your body. You are the only one who can ‘listen’ when your body ‘talks’. Each body has unique flexibilities, lengths, ratios, sizes, limitations, and abilities. All of those things can change from day to day, moment to moment, side to side. I expressly refuse to take responsibility for the safety of your body during yoga practice. I cannot ever know enough to do that.

You have one teacher here, one guru: Your body. No level of teaching experience or expertise is better than your knowledge of your own body and it’s limits.

More than that, I am not interested in making you dependent on me (or anyone else) to take care of your health and well-being. I am here to guide you to doing a better job of that on your own. I am here to show you that you, too, deserve the love and care that you give to the world.

Proper concentration and effort in your practice creates a naturally suggestive state. I use this to instill principles of emotional intelligence and resilience. I believe leaving that undirected is how toxic guru-student relationships happen. Be aware of this openness following yoga practice. Take that time to be gentle and loving with yourself.