Holistic Health for Body + Mind
I call myself a Yoga + Healthy Lifestyle Coach because I am so much more than simply a ‘Yoga Teacher.’ When I started teaching yoga more than 25 years ago I sensed that something was missing. I observed yogis practicing in huge classes without enough individual attention, going through sequences on auto-pilot and not really honoring what their bodies truly needed. I saw students showing up for their weekly yoga practice but ignoring other essential wellness practices like nutrition and rest.
I wanted to provide a more holistic approach, so I began teaching wellness-themed yoga courses. My offerings have evolved and deepened over the years to include working with clients one-on-one, where we focus not just on physical health, but on mental and emotional well-being too. My work focuses on five pillars that help my clients truly transform their lives:
- * Yoga
- * Self-Care
- * Plant-Based Nutrition
- * Healthy Aging + Perimenopause
- * High Sensitivity (HSP)
My passion for each of these areas is a reflection of being both a life-long learner and someone who has done my own inner work. My livelihood is not just what I do; it is a reflection of who I am.
My Journey
My own wellness journey started with Yoga. After earning a degree in International Business Administration from Alma College in the '90s and beginning a career in the automotive industry, I soon realized I was meant for something more. I took a leap of faith, quit my job, and spent the next two years working and studying to become an Interdisciplinary Yoga Instructor at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in New York. Upon returning to Michigan in the late '90s, I was the very first teacher to introduce Vinyasa yoga to the Ann Arbor community. I was the weird instructor who taught classes out of my basement--but students flocked to that basement, and I built a successful yoga career there from (below) the ground up.
I completed a second Yoga Teacher Training at the Center for Yoga in Michigan in 2002 and a Wellness Educator Training in 2020, which included hundreds of hours of instruction with leading yoga teachers, yoga therapists and healthcare professionals. Drawing upon my own personal experiences with physical therapy and dance, as well as my love of Pilates and anatomy, I create unique wellness-themed online yoga courses which enrich all areas of my students' lives.
Among my areas of expertise is Yoga for Healthy Aging. Aging brings with it a whole set of challenges like (peri)menopause, loss of muscle mass and balance, osteoporosis, arthritis and hypertension. Yoga is a wonderful tool to help us age well, as long as the practice is tailored to our specific needs. That is why much of my work is done one-on-one with clients, helping them create yoga practices that are sustainable and supportive no matter their age.
Yoga as a Way of Life
A yoga practice is about so much more than the postures we do on a mat though. It is the way we live our lives: what we eat, how we take care of ourselves, and how we live on this planet. As an advocate for sustainability and planetary health, I have been eating a whole-foods, plant-based diet for decades, and I can help you eat healthier too. You’ll find nourishment + inspiration in the plant-based recipe resources on my Wellness Blog.
Through my own life experiences with chronic stress and perimenopause--which I share about in more detail in my Online Wellness Courses--I learned how to take better care of myself, and am now a firm believer in daily self-care, setting healthy boundaries and self-compassion. If you need support in these areas (and who doesn’t?) you’ll find lots of self-care tools on my Wellness Blog.
Finally, discovering that I had the trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity--also known as being a Highly Sensitive Person or HSP--and learning tools to reduce anxiety and overwhelm taught me the undeniable impact this has on wellbeing—something we all need, whether you’re an HSP or not. (Take this quiz to find out.) I love helping fellow HSPs move from surviving to thriving by hosting my HSP Empowerment Group and sharing many helpful HSP resources on my Wellness Blog. Even if you’re not an HSP, I know you will benefit from this advice if you need support slowing down, unplugging, becoming more present and savoring life. As an HSP, it is my superpower to help you do just that!
A Mindfulness-Based Yoga Studio with Heart
In the summer of 2016, I relocated my private yoga studio, The Yoga Room, from it's original basement location to a charming cottage studio located behind my home in Ann Arbor, MI. This welcoming, poolside sanctuary overlooks sprawling gardens and features a cork floor, meditation loft, high ceilings, lots of natural wood and a peaceful setting. I intentionally create a warm, intimate environment where students can feel safe to be themselves and receive the personal attention they deserve.
In addition to private yoga sessions, I host Personal Retreats and other special events throughout the year, and the pool is open for Aqua Yoga sessions during the warm weather months. I am honored that The Yoga Room has twice been voted Best Yoga Studio in Ann Arbor, MI.
If you’re looking for gentle encouragement, a healing presence, a supportive environment, and someone who genuinely cares you've found the right place. Nothing would make me happier than to accompany you on your journey to optimal health and well-being!
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
