“What are you passionate about?”

“Yoga!”

“A lot of people say that here…what makes it special for you? How specifically has it changed your life?”

“Do you want to know the truth?”

“Yes.”

“I was sexually assaulted for the first time when I was 15. This traumatic experience launched me into a ten year cycle of abuse which resulted in extreme self-hatred. I could not see my own beauty or value as a woman.  I was depressed and developed many unhealthy habits. At one point things got really bad and I knew I couldn’t live like this any more. It was at this moment that a miracle happened-I attended my first yoga retreat in Yosemite valley. My life flipped. I fell in love with yoga. I fell in love with myself.  It didn’t happen overnight, but I gained skills. I learned how to breathe into the pain, how to accept the discomfort and the shame. I got in touch with my inner wise woman, my intuition, the deep self love running through my veins. Experiencing this changed me as a person.”

“How did it change you?”

“I am in touch with my inherent value now. I am more loving, more brave and free. After that first retreat I went on to complete a 200 hr teacher training and have been teaching ever since. Last summer I came full circle and I led my first yoga retreat in Yosemite. This experience touched the lives of my students in deep ways, just as my first retreat experience touched me. Now one of my students is going on to do her teacher training and the cycle continues." 

"What an amazing story. Do you have any retreats coming up?”

“Yes I am leading a retreat March 15th-17th in the Santa Cruz mountains called CREATIVE AWAKENING Yoga & Expressive Arts Retreat. I will be offering daily yoga and meditation as well as intuitive painting, expressive dance and singing.  In addition to yoga, art and creativity have been very effective ways for me to work through my trauma and I am very excited to share these potent tools with people.”

“Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your story. I’m sure that many people will be inspired and healed by your strength and openness.”

“You’re welcome. It is the biggest blessing in my life to be able to hold space for others to transform.”