about me
Growing up I loved all sports, but my favorite was always gymnastics. I remember my mom sitting my bother and me down when we were kids and telling us she signed me up for gymnastics lessons and my brother for swimming lessons. Little did I know how much that day would impact my life. I immediately fell in love with gymnastics and for the next 10 years it would be a big part of my life. Later on when I went to college I studied Psychology because I wanted to become a therapist, but I was really missing being involved in physical activity. On a whim I took a Modern Dance class during my sophomore year of college, twenty minutes into the class I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do! I auditioned for and was accepted into the Dance Program at Ohio University and never looked back! I combined my Psych and Dance studies to receive a Bachelors of Specialized Studies in Dance/Movement Therapy from Ohio University. I am incredibly grateful for discovering dance; it helped shape the person I am today and led me down a career path I am unbelievably thankful for. I went on to teach dance, gymnastics, and movement classes to people with physical and mental disabilities. I danced in Cleveland with several companies before moving to Portland, where I continued to Dance and choreograph. Performing and touring with dance companies in Portland were some of the best experiences of my life. I was so blessed to be a part of such an artistic community, where I formed life long friendships.
My pilates journey started in college, the OU Dance Department had a Pilates studio where dance students were able to practice and teach Pilates to each other. A week before graduation I experienced a serious back injury and was diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis, a spinal disorder in which a vertebra slips forward. After months of wearing a brace I wanted to see if I could get back to moving again. I took my knowledge of Pilates and adapted some of the exercises to perform them in the pool to rehab my back and eventually added in Pilates mat exercises. A year after my injury I tried dancing again and to my surprise I was actually stronger after a year of Pilates then I had been before the injury. That allowed me to begin my dancing career in Cleveland, which led me to Portland where I received my Pilates Certification and have been teaching ever since!
During my 25 years of teaching experience, I have worked with different populations of clients of all ages ranging from 9 years to 93 years of age. I have trained thousands of clients with different levels of physical ability, injury history, and needs, including a Senior LPGA champion and an NFL Quarterback. I became a certified Yoga Teacher and Personal Trainer. I taught the Aqua Pilates program that I had developed to help me recover from my back injury. My teaching reflects my passion for anatomy and alignment, balancing attention to detail while helping my clients become proficient in their movement.
I believe that everyone can benefit from movement no matter how old or inflexible they may perceive themselves to be. I have dedicated my life to helping others learn and enjoy the benefits of movement. My work is motivated by the belief that movement is a means for positive change in one’s physical, mental, and emotional states. With a caring approach and attention to detail I help individuals realize their full potential by educating my clients on proper execution of movement, and attention to the precision necessary to gain maximum benefits. I strive to address client’s specific anatomical needs, while at the same time sharing my passion for the joy of movement.
I believe movement not only offers physical benefits, but emotional and mental benefits as well. Whatever age or fitness level you are, I want to help you on your path to a stronger you! I believe in you and hope to reach the people who can benefit from my experience. I am here to share what I have spent my life learning about and I am glad you are here! I hope to offer encouragement, some joy and gratitude to your practice!
“Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be changed by our minds.”
-Buddha
