Yoga and Mindfulness
I have practiced yoga for over 25 years and earned my teaching certification in 2010. My personal practice and teaching focuses on using the breath to bring mindfulness and ease into all aspects of practice. For me, balance is at the heart of yoga, and I encourage students to find their own balance of effort and surrender in my classes. My teaching is guided by first-hand experience of finding freedom through proper physical alignment, exploration of perceived boundaries, and honoring experience as it is; building strength, flexibility and awareness.
As a mindfulness meditation student and practitioner since 2009, I have experienced unimaginable discovery, opening, and deepening through this practice. We all have thought patterns and mental habits that are deeply ingrained and running in the background of our beliefs and decisions without us even noticing. Only once we become aware of and accept all parts of ourselves, can we release that which no longer serves us. This practice has freed up my mental capacity for more presence, peace, and possibility, and I’m humbled to share these tools with anyone who would like to explore their own mental habits and possibilities.
Consulting
As the director and primary instructor of Lake Merritt Yoga since 2010, I have organized and taught hundreds of yoga and mindfulness classes. I additionally coach classroom teachers and administrators and teach trauma informed dynamic mindfulness sessions to students, focusing on building stress resilience, self awareness, and emotion regulation.
I have over a decade of experience supporting professional development, both within dynamic mindfulness and within the early childhood education field. I have supported local school districts and other community partners in designing and implementing focused and aligned professional development models, and creating systems for continuous improvement toward meeting teachers’ needs, building teacher self-reflection on classroom practices, and tracking growth and progress.
I am available to support professional development planning, facilitation of meetings and project management, team building and restorative circle practices, and consult on bringing mindfulness to your wellness programs.
Education & Training
Upeksha Yoga Teacher Certification (200+ hours), Seventh Heaven Yoga Studio, Berkeley, 2010
Using Restorative Practices in Schools (14 hours), San Francisco Unified School District, 2019
Dynamic Mindfulness (14 hours), Niroga Institute, 2017
Introduction to Restorative Circle (16 hours), Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, 2016
Teaching Yoga to Youth, Trauma-informed training (15 hours), Niroga Institute, 2015
Kingian Nonviolence (16 hours), Positive Peace Warrior Network, 2011
Teaching Prenatal Yoga, (12 hours), Candace Garrett Yoga, 2010
What Young People Need to Succeed, Developmental Asset Building (6 hours), 2006
Bachelor’s of Arts, Political, Economic, and Social Analysis for Just Policy, Western Washington University, 2005
Experience
Director and Lead Instructor, Lake Merritt Yoga
May 2010 – Present
Organize and teach donation-based yoga classes and mindfulness and movement workshops. My teaching is guided by first-hand experience of finding opening through awareness of body, mind, and breath.
Associate Program Director, Niroga Institute
March 2021 – June 2022
Oversee all Bay Area programming in schools, supporting program managers and coordinators in ensuring quality, successful programs. Develop curriculum, recruit and train personnel, and directly manage some programs.
Program Manager, Niroga Institute
August 2018 – March 2021
Co-design, implement, and oversee dynamic mindfulness programs at multiple Bay Area middle and high schools. Coach classroom teachers and administrators and teach DMind curriculum in classrooms, small groups, and one-on-one, building stress resilience, self awareness, and emotion regulation. Support and manage Niroga instructors.
Dynamic Mindfulness Instructor, Niroga Institute
January 2018 – June 2018
Teach DMind curriculum to high school students, building stress resilience, self awareness, and emotion regulation. Teaching integrates body, mind, and breath awareness through simple mindfulness and movement practices.
Program Manager of Community Initiatives, The Early Learning Lab
July 2016 – May 2018
Worked with teams to improve professional development, engagement and training of caregivers and teachers of young children. Supported local school districts as they designed and implemented professional development. Created systems for tracking growth and progress.
Program Manager, Early Edge California
April 2013 – July 2016
Worked across the state to build policymaker and community leader engagement in support of increasing access to effective early learning programs; supported school districts and teachers in implementing high-quality, developmentally appropriate transitional kindergarten and P-3 alignment; worked with partners to develop instructional and administrative resources.
Field Coordinator, Preschool California
April 2009 – April 2013
Built policymaker and community leader engagement in support of increasing access to effective early learning programs; supported school districts and teachers in implementing high-quality transitional kindergarten programs, working with partners to develop implementation and instructional resources.
Career Development Committee, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
October 2009 – January 2012
Collaborated in planning and executing educational events for young nonprofit professionals; addressed large groups, moderated speaker panels, and lead facilitated networking activities; recruited panel experts, created promotional fliers and supplemental materials, outreached to event attendees and improved committee systems and practices.