In April 2011, I was still living in the US and was visiting a friend from high school who was living in Boulder Colorado. I needed some time away from my travel companions so I decided to go to a hot yoga class on my own. I remember a specific moment towards the end of the class where I felt this overwhelming familiarity wash over me from being in my body and so closely connected with my breath. When I got back to the east coast, I found a hot yoga studio, started practicing and as they say, the rest is history!

My life would be truly incomplete without yoga. To me, it is not a number of practices, poses, or breathing techniques that I do on a mat or in a particular sequence. It has completely changed the trajectory of my life, my outlook, my connection to my body and to nature. Thanks to this overwhelming connection I have to yoga, I’ve generally taken any necessary sacrifices to ensure I provide space for my practice and studies to exist alongside my daily life. I’ve also been fortunate to have wonderful people in my life who understand this is my path and honour my way of prioritising it!

To the willing people who show up to practice yoga with me, I wish to allow them to see the wholeness that exists innately within them. I seek to show them of their inner stillness, their unwavering focus, and the tremendous power that lies inside, whilst reminding them it’s okay and welcome to play, fall, practice and try again! The poses and practices are merely a tool for providing context and an anchor from which they can enquire deep within themselves. It’s also important to me that students who wish to explore the philosophical or devotional aspects of this rich path have an opportunity to experience and understand these within their yoga practice.

I feel most connected when I’m in my home studio exploring my own personal practice or when I’m teaching a really full, fun yoga class with many wonderful humans in the studio in their own exploration! The other times that come to mind are when I’m in nature, spending time with my partner and dog, or enjoying music and having a dance.

I love this question as I think it’s so necessary to highlight the moments of discomfort in our lives and to remember our yoga practice is not just there when it’s all rainbows and sunshines. One of my most favourite tools in times of unease is sitting with one of the Hindu and tantric goddesses called Dhumavati. Her name means the smokey one and she represents the old crone woman, depicted on a horseless carriage, alone and appearing to be in despair. She reminds me that in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone and that our humanness holds an unbelievable ability to sustain grief and disappointment. It’s through those heavier times we are able to transform most and access our power to overcome any adversity. She brings me so much comfort and I’m incredibly grateful I’ve welcomed her power and presence into my heart!

One ritual that I prioritise every single day is sitting at my home altar. It’s a space I’ve cultivated over a number of years and it holds cherished items from many loved ones, including statues and paintings of the gods and goddess that I adore so much. Sitting in front of my altar brings me out of my head and back into my heart and breath. It provides the space to practice subtler yoga such as pranayama and chanting mantras.