Lineage

Here, I offer my respect to the people that have shaped my life and practice.

Zen Buddhism

I practice Engaged Buddhism (Mahayana based Zen) as a lay person with The Order of Interbeing and Plum Village as pioneered by Thich Nhat Hanh. My Dharma name is Pure Aspiration of the Heart and my mentor is Gurupriya Beth Sanchez. The monastics at Plum Village have not only deeply influenced my spiritual life, but also my artistic practice.

Yoga

Yoga touched my life through the writings of J. Krishnamurti and teachings of BKS Iyengar as shared with me by my first Yoga teacher Meera Sanghani in 2005. I do not identify with a specific guru or lineage as a student of Yoga and that is a reflection of J. Krishnamurti’s impact on my practice. Krishnamurti advised against following any doctrine, discipline, or guru. However, he was a student of Desikachar and therefore Krishnamacharya. His pedagogy has greatly influenced my teaching practice; centering a global outlook, concern for people and the planet, as well as a balancing of the religious spirit with scientific temper.

Iyengar

I was introduced to Iyengar Yoga while attending Art School in Chicago in 2005 and have been a devoted student ever since. I enjoy the benefits of long holds buoyed up by props and the emergent therapeutic nature of B.K.S Iyengar and his family's teachings.

Ayurveda

I have studied Vedic Counseling, Ayurveda, and Yoga Therapy with Dr. David Frawley through the American Institute of Vedic Studies. My focus as an Ayurvedic practitioner is on the trauma informed Ayurvedic diet emphasizing herbal medicine. I also trained in clinical western herbal medicine for women’s health with Dr. Aviva Romm.

Daoyin

I have been a student of Daoist Arts since 2010 and have studied Daoyin, Qigong, and Traditional Chinese Medicine with Mike Ninomiya, Yoshi Nakano, Tias and Surya Little, and Mimi Kuo Deemer.

Dance & Somatics

I am a professional dance artist, scholar, and choreographer. Somatic Movement is a field of study developed by dancers and my work contributes to the web of inquiry taking place at the intersection of psychology and movement. I specialize in trauma informed (healing-centered) dance pedagogy and praxis.

Embodiment

I trained in Embodiment Coaching/Body-Mind Psychotherapy with Susan Aposhyan. This work integrates contemporary psychotherapy with the teachings of Somatics pioneer Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen.

With endless love and gratitude…