I was born and raised in Healdsburg, California. Growing up playing baseball I knew my life would require physical activity. After playing baseball throughout my youth and then into collage I realized that there was a disconnect between the mind and the body connection. This void left me emotionally seeking to fill the void in his soul. In 2013 I moved to Laguna Beach to get clean and sober. The meetings and the fellowship gave me the foundation I was looking for to address the addiction but, there was still the void of the mind – body movement connection. That is when my aunt took him to his first yoga class in Laguna Beach. It was that day that I found what I was looking for my whole life. The movement came naturally and my body response was like drinking a cool glass of water after days in the hot dessert heat.

I started taking yoga classes from as many teachers as I could and practicing all of the yoga modalities. The passion landed in Vinasa Flow and Power Yoga. While completing my 500 hours at Yoga Works Teacher training I had the privilege to travel with other Yogi’s observing and being part of yoga retreats across the world.

Now teaching throughout Orange County, CA I am hosting my own yoga retreats, I am a proud Lululemon Ambassador and continue to give back to the recovery community by sharing my yoga journey with others. What has become important to me is that I tell my story, help the newcomers in yoga and be of service to my peers.

People ask me all the time how do you stay in shape? I tell them using your own body weight in yoga, the benefit of stretching your body you can achieve your goals. I also, am asked how do I get my cardio if I only do yoga and I suggest to them to do a Vinasa Flow Class. The constant movement will bring your heart rate up. Another question I get asked is how do I start?  Take as many different types of level 1 classes you can and your body will tell you what practice fits you. There is not a one size fits all in yoga. That is the benefit of having so many amazing teachers to share you practice with.

My final thought is that I encourage everyone to breath.. Be aware of your breath throughout your practice. We have learned to hold our breath without even knowing it. By being aware of the breath you will increase you body’s movement and be able to move deeper into the posture without injury.

7 tips to prepare for a Headstand Practice Daily Goals. The below will build your strength to prepare you to go into your headstand practice with confidence.

1. Do 5 Sun A’s as a warm up the body.
2. Practice holding Chaturanga Dandasane for 30 seconds. Do 3 rounds
3. Practice holding Downward Dog for 3 minutes.
4. Practice holding 3 Leg Down dog for 1 minute each side.
5. Find a free wall with allot of room on both sides. Face the wall and practice lifting one leg at a time up the wall no higher than hip height. Do three rounds holding each side for a count of 10.
6. Practice planks with a goal of holding each plank for 1 minute.
7. Find a headstand workshop and sign up so you can safely learn to come into a headstand.