My academic and professional background are firmly rooted in science. I’ve worked diligently for over 20 years as a wildlife ecologist, with an emphasis on reproductive ecology of Neotropical migratory songbirds. I co-founded Animas Biological Studies with my husband in 2008, and I remain involved in a variety of field studies and conservation efforts in the Southwest. I am proud to have also served for 10 years as the Statewide Project Manager and Editor for The Second Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas.

I sought out yoga in 2001, while in graduate school, stressed out, and also grieving the loss of my mother to cancer a few years earlier. My first yoga class brought an immense sense of peace, a state of being completely lacking in my life at that time, and I was immediately hooked. Over the next several years I navigated through periods of stress, emotional unrest, and deep grief, but through dedicated study and consistent practice of yoga and meditation, I opened up space for myself to heal and transform my grief. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this process ultimately led me to the path of teaching yoga. I took a rare break from my professional life and traveled to Baja for a 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training with the Yandara Yoga Institute. The experience nourished me in ways that are challenging to describe, solidifying the importance of daily practice, and I just knew that yoga would be a part of my life forever. Since that time, my yoga practice has deepened and flourished, and I’ve opened myself up to experiencing the power of the subtler yoga practices. I delight in teaching group classes and making connections with my community, but I feel truly fulfilled working with people one-on-one, addressing each individual as the unique and special person that they are. I have taught group and private yoga since 2007, and in 2018 became a proud co-owner of Yogadurango.

In 2017, I enrolled in a Yoga Therapy Certification Program with Inner Peace Yoga Therapy. I studied with many world-renowned instructors including Nischala Joy Devi, Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Laura Kupperman, Marisa Laursen, Michele Lawrence, Durga Leela, Maria Mendola, Neil Pearson, Antonio Sausys, Jai Dev Singh, and Amy Weintruab. During my studies, I was drawn to the applications of yoga to grief, chronic pain, and chronic illnesses, and reveled in the many evidence-based approaches to health and wellness through yoga. I specialize in these areas, working one-on-one with my clients and applying the tools of yoga to address each individual’s health concerns. I strive to empower my clients to take an active role in their health and wellness and live their best life, even when faced with difficult health challenges. I believe in the healing power of yoga. It has helped me to heal, and it can help you too.

EDUCATION

SPECIALIZED YOGA TRAINING