I became interested in nutrition and wellness in high school when I made the bold decision at 14 years old to become a vegetarian (to the great disappointment of my parents). At the time, I was a cross country runner and needed to learn not only how to cook meals for myself but to eat in a way that could build endurance for my long-distance runs. It was only a few years later that I was introduced to yoga when I was gifted a VHS of Yoga Mind and Body. I gave up running many years ago, but my passion for healthy eating, cooking, and yoga never waned.

One of my great loves is traveling. At 19, I had the bright idea to backpack across Europe and convinced a few friends to tag along. This adventure sparked a lifetime passion and I continue to wander the world anytime I get the chance. This love of other cultures and adventure fueled my education and I hold degrees in anthropology and religion. I longed to visit all the places that were photographed so beautifully in my textbooks and have lived in a monastery in Bodhgaya, explored castles in Ireland, hiked Machu Picchu, and had many other adventures that were fueled by my curiosity of other cultures and ways of being in the world.

“One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things.” ~Henry Miller

As a college professor, I taught Buddhism and humanities courses, but soon realized that my heart was not in academia. I wanted to focus on practical applications rather than theory, so I pivoted and began teaching workshops focusing on the science of happiness, resilience, meditation, and mindful movement. These workshops explore the ways that we can leverage our innate ability to reshape our bodies and minds to create healthier and happier lives.

My Story

My journey to health coaching

My life was turned upside down in 2020 when I experienced a health crisis. After decades of living with Crohn’s disease, surgery became my only option. While recovering in the hospital, things took a turn for the worse when they found cancer during a routine biopsy (a very unwelcome surprise on my 43rd birthday!).

Fortunately, my cancer was treatable and I started down the long road to recovery. This journey led me to the Dempsey Center, a nonprofit specializing in supporting people impacted by cancer. I worked with a nutritionist to refine my diet to rebuild my body and restarted my yoga practice to regain strength, flexibility and mobility. It took time (as all good things do), but I have moved far beyond merely surviving to thriving.

This experience changed the trajectory of my life. I was already a certified fluid yoga teacher and decided to complete a Yoga for Cancer teacher training. This training deepened my own practice, and I began teaching oncology yoga. In these classes, I help people regain their sense of self along with their health through movement. It has been the most meaningful experience of my life (and I’ve done a lot of cool stuff!). Motivated by my drive to help others heal themselves, I became an integrative health coach where I combine my knowledge of nutrition, movement, and human flourishing to help others live their best lives.