Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
I took my first class in 2015 on a whim when a friend invited me to a class. I had never done yoga before but from my first backbend I knew this yoga was for me. From then on I practiced occasionally in Milwaukee and Denver until early 2023 when I decided to go to Bikram’s teacher training.
Why did you become an instructor and what aspects of Bikram Yoga have had the greatest effect on you?
After years of struggling with alcoholism I got sober in 2022. It was the hardest thing I ever did. Becoming consistent with my yoga practice was one of the greatest tools I had in those early days of sobriety and I decided to become a teacher in hopes of sharing it with others. Practicing the yoga keeps me right in my body and mind. With every class various physical pains and persistent anxieties lessen while patience and focus increase both in the room and out. I greatly enjoy the consistency of the routine and how easy it makes to see progress. Outside of my own practice I enjoy the aspect of service that teaching gives me.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
I enjoy cooking, baking, and spending time with my boyfriend and dog.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
My favorite pose is always changing but it’s usually whatever posture I am having the most difficulty with. Right now I am struggling with the seemingly simple standing separate leg stretching posture. I look forward to suffering through it every class.
What advice would you give to any new student?
Keep coming back. You have your whole life to do this series, it will never change. But you will change with every class. Starting is hard and there may be breaks in your practice but if you keep coming back you will keep feeling better. Also be curious and ask questions. It’s your practice, get to know it.
