Dancing Through Life

Movement & Yoga

Sometimes I call movement my 'first language' because of the ease, joy, and play I experience when dancing since I was a child. I've been a mover throughout my life in some form, and began dance classes at age 5 -- extensively studying movement techniques including ballet, jazz, modern dance styles such as Horton, Graham, Dunham, and Luigi, Afro-Cuban dance, American ballroom dance, Latin dances, and creative movement. I enjoyed a diverse dance career in Los Angeles and Japan as a performer in musical theater, modern dance, stage and a one year stint competing on the national ballroom dance circuit in 1999. I began teaching movement while still in my teens.

In the late 1990's I embarked upon a personal transformation, and my passion shifted to movement and the body for transformation and healing. I began my Yoga studies by taking a weekend workshop with Ayurvedic phsycian, Dr. Partap Chahaun, from India. I began taking Yoga classes at the Big Bend Center for Yoga , and began studying with Erich Schiffmann, who through his book 'Moving into Stillness' conveyed love, authenticity, and the beauty of yoga to me. I was inspired to teach Yoga by reading Erich's book. I did a teacher training and several workshops with him, and began teaching in 2001.  I still teach weekly Yoga classes with some students continuing since that time, and love seeing how people light up through their Yoga practice.

Around 2003, I created a movement class called Transformation Dance, where I experimented with transformative movement. I also experienced workshops with other transformative dance guides, such as Gabrielle Roth and Ya'Acov Khan. I became certified to teach Nia (which integrates nine different movement forms from dance arts, healing arts, and martial arts) and completed the first two levels of certification. I learned a lot from The Nia Technique about how movement relates to wholeness, healing, and joy.  While I no longer lead weekly Transformation Dance or Nia classes, I do weave what I learned from those experiences into all my offerings. 

Emotional Literacy & Body-Centered Transformation

In January 2005, I learned of the Nonviolent Communication  (NVC) process. This process opened a doorway for me in understanding my feelings, deeper wants and needs, thinking, and beliefs -- a 'breaking open' into more freedom and possibility. I began sharing the process with others in early 2006, and became a Certified Trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication in January, 2009. I started sharing NVC workshops in 2006, where I enjoyed seeing the learning and connection that people experienced. 

In early 2007, I discovered the work of Drs. Kathlyn & Gay Hendricks. Their approach to body-centered transformation invites learning by opening awareness to body sensations and movements moment to moment.  Cultivating this kind of body-awareness is another gateway to connecting with the deeper streams of personality and essence which emerge in each moment.  From this approach I have learned and integrated the concept that learning can be easy.  Living consciously can be easy.  Relationships can be easy.  What a great discovery!  I became a Certified BodyMind Coach in February, 2009 and Certified Transformational Leader Graduate in September 2010. I find this approach is a wonderful complement to the meditation and spiritual practices from the Yoga tradition. 

Gratitude

In May 2010, I began leading therapy groups at McCallum Place, a treatment center for people with eating disorders.  In the weekly groups I facilitate, I share processes I've learned from all my teachers over the past decade.  I love the work at McCallum Place, and appreciate the opportunity for me to integrate and understand even more deeply how all the transformative processes I've been practicing and sharing intersect with each other and provide a structure for learning, healing, thriving, and fulfillment. 

Credentials

My Yoga credentials include:
* Initiated into the tradition of the Himalayan Institute by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait in 2003
* Studied with ParaYoga Founder Rod Stryker since 2003, Successfully completed the ParaYoga Master Taining at the 500 hour level.
* Yoga Alliance ERYT-500
* Completed Living Tantra program with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait in 2011