Where were you born and where did you grow up?
Born in Katy, Texas – raised in upstate New York
How long have you been practicing Bikram Yoga and what prompted you to take your first Bikram Yoga class?
I’ve been practicing Bikram for almost 15 years. I was a dancer and distance runner – friends from both camps suggested I try a class. I instantly loved it; it is the combination of those two passions and the mind/body connection I found has changed my life.
What do you like to do when you are not in the yoga room?
I am a working professional – I graduated from law school in 2008 and have been pursuing a career in Technology for the last few years. I have two Yorkies, Charlie and Oscar that get most of my time and attention.
What is your favorite pose in the Bikram series and why?
Triangle is currently my favorite – although the “favorite” is always on rotation depending on what’s going on in my life. The perfect marriage between my heart and lungs is what makes it my favorite posture. So many postures take years to connect to – to actually feel what’s happening in the body as you do them. I’ve always felt the strength and stretching conditioning that happens during Trikonasana but the current state of my body and my practice have allowed me to connect with the full body stretching and strengthening while experiencing the heart and lung connection. I LOVE it!
What advice would you give to any new student?
Seek new opportunities for yourself – your personal growth, ways of looking at things and your determination to live a full life. Resiliency isn’t genetic or fixed – get on your mat and impress yourself with how much you can do!