Founder and Instructor

Teaching yoga is a joy. After practicing yoga for many years, the natural next step was to deepen my personal practice by studying to become a yoga teacher, and for the past decade I have had the privilege of teaching yoga to others. As one of my teachers said, “We practice yoga for our students and we teach yoga for ourselves.” This turned out to be very true for me. Yoga has been a steady companion throughout my adult life—more than a practice, it is a way of being; a discipline that has evolved with me, supporting and challenging me as I grow older.

My approach to teaching is rooted in my other career as a college professor where I specialized in preparing teachers in the care and education of young children. When focusing on the adult learner, I try to meet each student where they are. My goal is to support students in reaching their goals—whether it is building strength, improving mobility, breathwork, or simply carving out time for presence and reflection.

My yogic philosophy draws inspiration from multiple traditions. I take cues from the precision of the Iyengars, the opposing forces in nature of Hatha, the fluidity of Vinyasa flow, the energy work of Kundalini, and the discipline of a more rigorous Ashtanga practice. This blend allows me to tailor the practice to individual needs while staying true to the core principles of yoga.

Yoga is not just something I do—it is who I am. It continues to shape my life, offering the dualities of structure and freedom, strength and flexibility, and discipline and expression. I believe the practice of yoga is a gift; one that I was given and one that I pay forward.

Founder and Instructor

I was introduced to yoga by a college dance professor many years ago and found a practice that has served my mind and spirit along with my physical body since. 

I’ve been teaching yoga for a decade in my hometown, Chicago.  I offer group classes in yoga studios and gyms; I also work privately with small groups and one on one with individual students.  I have taught in schools, corporations, and hotels, at museums and parks. In my classes you will stretch, strengthen, and balance with guided breath awareness so you feel long, strong, calm and connected. My classes respect the many limbs of yoga and infuse a playful willingness to explore with deep curiosity and joy.

In the past few years, I started bringing my classes on the road, exploring new locations during long weekends or week-long yoga retreats.  Balanced Yoga Retreats grew organically from a series of co-hosted yoga retreats with Jen Asimow.  I’m delighted to bring the many gifts of yoga to beautiful locations nearby and far away and to share those with my co-host, Jen and the incredible souls who come along for the journey.