Yoga has a way of doing this: sneaking up on you and catching you unaware. You may turn to yoga because you’ve heard how beneficial it is, or because you want a different or better fitness option, or because you want to explore this ancient tradition. And you may find, to your surprise, that yoga opens your heart and soul in ways you never expected.

I started practicing yoga when I was 48 years old. I practiced sporadically for six years, viewing yoga as an opportunity to add variety to my workout routine and to develop more flexibility in middle age. But then, I broke a foot and sustained a head injury in two separate household accidents within the course of 6 months. Hoping to restore some emotional and physical balance in my life, I hobbled into Hilltop Yoga. After my first class, I knew I had caught a glimpse of a way through all the chaos. Walking through Hilltop’s door, little did I know I had taken the first steps of a journey that will continue for the rest of my life. It’s the journey most of us travel at some point--one of trying to better understand ourselves while seeking a connection with something bigger than ourselves. For me, yoga is the means through which I can make those discoveries and a framework for exploring them in ever-deeper ways each time I come to my mat.

Through my practice and training at Hilltop, I’ve come to know yoga as a rich, multidimensional, and coherent way of looking at and moving through the world. I’ve come to appreciate the depth of the practice and the gifts it offers to the mind, body, and spirit. I’ve come to cherish the patient ways in which yoga builds strength and courage—both physically and spiritually. Through Hilaire and the community of teachers and practitioners she has nurtured I have found challenge, growth, laughter, lightness, and some of the deepest friendships of my life.

I view the Basics class I teach as a way to help others start or renew their travels on whatever yogic path they may choose to follow. I truly believe that every posture in our practice is accessible to each of us, and that each breath and movement is a unique expression of who we are. As a teacher, I can help keep you safe as you practice. I can teach you the forms of the physical practice--the asanas--and the connection of movement to breath and intention. Through practice, consistency, and an open heart, your body and spirit will discover the rest. I am honored to join you on your journey.