When I was in my early 20’s I started to realize that there were parts of my daily experience in my body that seemed “stuck” or “frozen.” I noticed after a long day of school or night at work, I would need to sit still for hours on end to decompress. This was not a constructive time of self-care, but rather a gap in time for my nervous system to slow down enough to sleep at night.

Sleep was something that never came easy to me as a child or young adult. Most nights were restless and I would wake several times flooded by repetitive, intrusive thoughts. I attempted to keep myself as busy as possible during the day by burning the candle at both ends to avoid the symptoms of what I now understand as PTSD.

When I went to my first yoga class, I was looking for a way to stop being at war with my body. Years of being stuck in survival mode had left me with the experience of constant chronic pain and emotional stress, frequent episodes of disassociation and poor memory, an inability to connect meaningfully in social settings (not to mention a short temper).

It was not instant and it was not always easy or comfortable, but as I showed up for myself on the mat I began to notice changes over time. My weekly yoga practice became a gateway to remembering what it is like to be more at ease and at peace with myself. I saw small glimpses of being more at home within my body. The physical poses, breathing exercises, stretching, and meditation taught me how to be more present and attuned to my emotional and physical needs, as well as more accepting of myself.

Over the past 13 years, I have fully dedicated myself to exploring the healing potential of yoga both as a student and a teacher. I’m a Yoga Alliance Certified Education Provider at the Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 500 hour level (E-RYT 500). I have completed numerous additional certifications including trauma-informed instruction with Hala Khouri from Off the Mat, Into the World; how to work with aging populations through Duke University’s Integrated Medicine “Yoga for Seniors” program; and years of intensive study and certification of yogahour Hatha teaching technology with Darren Rhodes; among others.

I currently lead a special care yoga research program at Emory University’s Cognitive Empowerment Program for older adults and their care partners experiencing the early stages of dementia and memory loss. There I have a passion for working with neurodiverse populations and making chair yoga accessible for everyone.

As a trauma-informed yoga instructor, my role is to hold space for you to make a home for yourself as you explore your internal landscape. My aim is to make your practice a brave space for autonomy and choice-- that means making yoga accessible for any body. Together we will craft a practice that supports your individual goals exploring boundary, sensation, and choice.

What to Expect:
You can expect an hour-long practice designed to calm your nervous system, lower your heart rate, and ease physical stress and muscle tension. We will take support from yoga props such as blankets, foam blocks, and bolsters to encourage your body to stretch and recover comfortably. Dress in long, loose athletic pants or leggings, socks, and a comfortable top. Feel free to bring your yoga mat, or we can provide one for you. All other yoga props will be provided on-site.

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Align Wellness offers an initial yoga package of 4 sessions for $550, and then each session is $120. The initial session package is set at an increased cost because these are customized sessions to you, and significant time and energy are spent both in and out of sessions to craft your care. These sessions are open to everyone, regardless of whether you are a current therapy client at Align. Yoga sessions are not covered by insurance.