A little about me
My philosophy
We are miraculous beings! By exercising our bodies, eating to address our unique bio-individuality and making time for meditation, rest and recovery, we have the potential to elevate and deepen our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and well-being.
My work is about meeting people where they are at and supporting them to create and sustain a strong enough body and mind, to live with more balance, joy, health and ease.
I find great meaning and pleasure in studying and sharing this work, and I consider it a true honor to be on a path of service.
My education
I began my yoga studies in 1980. I practiced alone in my teenage bedroom from a yoga book that came along with a recording. I didn’t know it at the time but this was the beginning of a dedicated path into yoga.
During and after college I practiced and sampled many different styles of yoga to include Sivananda, Kundalini, Jivamukti, ISHTA, Ashtanga and Iyengar. Whatever I found available and accessible, I was open and eager to experience. Those early days were the seeds that would eventually blossom into the work I do today.
I earned a BA in Theater Arts from Bard College, and later, an MS in Dance Movement Therapy from Hunter College. I am a NY State (LCAT) Licensed Creative Arts Therapist.
As a yoga teacher, I received my 200 hour yoga certification in 2006 from the Yoga & Polarity Center, LI, with a concentration in viniyoga, from the Krishnamacharya lineage. My 300 hour certification was earned seven years later at Laughing Lotus, NYC, focusing on vinyasa flow style of Hatha Yoga with an introduction to Ayurveda. I am registered with Yoga Alliance as E-RYT-500+ and YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider)
Honoring the lineage of my Jewish ancestral roots and identity, I participated in a teacher training by the Embodied Jewish Network, integrating movement and yoga through Jewish spirituality, complimenting the offerings of Lev Shalem Yoga LevShalemYoga where I have been collaborating with Rabbi Tara Feldman and other teachers since 2009. In 2021, Rabbi Feldman and I co-authored a workbook titled “Into A Jewish Holiday Year with Yoga!” Available on Amazon
As a dance movement therapist and teaching artist, I have worked within the fields of psychiatry, substance abuse, gerontolgy, oncolgy and neurology. I participated in the Dance for Parkinson’s Disease teacher training with the Mark Morris Dance Group based in Brooklyn, NY. I am currently on faculty with the MMDG Dance for PD program and can be found leading classes at Northwell, Glen Cove Hospital and also as a guest teacher with the Dance Party for Parkinson’s, Inc, teaching at JCC’s in Nassau county, Long Island. I have additional training and experience working under Dr. Martha Eddy and Sherry LeBed Davis, to teach movement to address the physical and psycho-social needs of people recovering from breast cancer.
I love learning and prioritize my ongoing education and obtain advanced certifications every year.
Yoga Certifications and Training:
200 hours Yoga & Polarity Center, LI, Heather Principe
300 hours Laughing Lotus, NYC, Dana Flynn & Ali Cramer
30 hours Katonah Yoga, Abbie Galvin & Ty Watson
15 hours Sequencing, Jason Crandell
15 hours Injury Prevention, Jason Crandell
20 hours Yin Yoga, Corina Benner
10 hours Restorative Yoga, Jillian Pransky
20 hours Corporate Yoga, Shawn Bradford
30 hours Embodied Jewish Spirituality, Julie Emden
20 hours Prenatal Yoga, Suzanne Cardinal
15 hours YogaKids, Marsha Wenig
Dance Movement Training:
Mark Morris Dance for PD
Healthy Steps, The Lebed Method
Moving for Life, Dr. Martha Eddy
Additional Training and Advanced Workshops:
Health Coach, Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN)
Senior Fitness Specialist, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
Reiki Level 1, Barbara Arnold
Pranic Healing Level 1, Gabriel Mourner
Introduction to Thai Yoga, Abby Vakay
Integral Sound Healing, Catherine Besthoff