I had just arrived back in Madison after a 3-month long bicycle trip, and I knew I needed something to keep me grounded until I figured out what I was going to do next with my life. So I walked into the Downtown Inner Fire Yoga studio, and the rest is history. I started out with Power Flow classes, but a snowboarding wrist injury eventually led me to the Original Hot Yoga classes at the West studio, and that’s where I started to commit to a more regular practice. I remember getting my 300-classes bracelet and half-jokingly telling people that it took 300 classes for me to have any idea what I was doing. But that’s the great thing about yoga— there is always something to learn and explore. I continue to practice all types of yoga, and I try to approach it from a beginner’s mindset always, even after many more bracelet milestones and a teacher certification.

 My approach to yoga is to be curious. Try something new. Take a breath. Enjoy the process. Yoga is a practice. It’s a chance to quiet the mind and connect to the body and the breath. It’s a chance to take care of ourselves. I am grateful to the practice for making me more compassionate towards myself and towards others. I became a yoga teacher because I love to teach and learn, and I enjoy sharing yoga with others and contributing to the community.