How I Got Here (The Origin Story)

The first 23 years of my life were devoted to the game of baseball. After my college career ended, I found myself sitting at my first “real” job, in a cubicle, asking, “Is this all there is to life now?”

I started practicing yoga after baseball ended in 2017, and within my first week I met an incredible teacher (shoutout to Tom Sugatt). He was teaching handstands in class, and I was immediately hooked. What I’ve since learned is that the thing that brings you to the mat is rarely the thing that keeps you there.

One particularly brutal and depressing day at my cubicle job, I took one of Tom’s Tuesday night classes. I sat up after savasana feeling like a completely renewed person. The transformation I experienced in that class taught me that yoga is about so much more than just moving your body.

In 2018, in a perfectly serendipitous moment, Tom and another favorite teacher of mine, Kate Cherne, were leading a teacher training together. I joined without hesitation. I couldn’t have picked a better duo to teach me how to facilitate not just a yoga class, but a complete experience. I began teaching at the start of 2019, and the rest is history.

Since then, I’ve taught at multiple incredible studios in the Twin Cities and Boulder, CO, meeting amazing people along the way and growing more as a human than I ever could have imagined.

There was my life before yoga, and my life after yoga. Since 2017, I’ve grown into a completely different person.

I can’t tell my yoga story without mentioning Kyle Wilman. In the fall of 2019, we connected by pure happenstance and quickly became friends. Kyle has always believed in me and seen potential in me, even when I struggle to see it myself. He’s a friend first, but also someone I deeply consider a mentor. I’m incredibly grateful to have him in my life, and I’m honored to join him on Yoga Podclass.

What I Actually Believe About Yoga

I truly believe yoga is for everyone. That said, not every style of yoga, or every teacher, is right for everyone. Whenever I see a heated power vinyasa class labeled “all levels,” I can’t help but roll my eyes. It’s probably not something I’d recommend to an elderly person, and that’s okay.

Yoga is incredibly broad. When someone tells me they don’t like yoga, I usually believe they just haven’t found the right format, teacher, or community yet. Saying “I do yoga” is kind of like saying “I play sports.” There are that many different ways to practice. What works for me isn’t going to work for everyone, and it shouldn’t have to.

Because of this, I believe yoga should be inclusive, but that doesn’t mean every class needs to meet every person’s needs or preferences.

I believe your practice will look different every time you step on the mat. Some days you’ll feel light as a feather; other days it’ll feel like your bones are made of concrete. What matters most is that we continue to show up without judging ourselves.

I believe the best yoga teachers aren’t necessarily the ones with the most hours of training or the deepest knowledge of anatomy, philosophy, or sequencing. The best teachers are the ones who connect. Their students leave class feeling seen. They understand that a yoga class isn’t just a class, it’s a complete experience.

I believe it’s essential to stay true to who you are as a teacher. I know not everyone is going to love me or my teaching style, and that’s okay. What matters most is creating a welcoming, safe space that feels authentic to who I am.

I believe the most important yoga we practice is the yoga off the mat. The practice goes far deeper than the asanas. The real work happens in the privacy of your own heart. The time on the mat helps us learn how to find peace within discomfort.

And finally, I believe it’s a privilege to practice yoga, and with that privilege comes responsibility. Our practice should inspire us to show up better in the world. Simply by how we live, listen, and move through life, we can help elevate the collective consciousness.

What Drives Me (The Why Behind The Work)

Connection is the why behind everything I do, and yoga is the primary vessel for connection in my life. Connection to community, connection to myself, and connection to the divine source. At my core, I believe I’m here to connect and inspire.

Connection with Community - I believe surrounding yourself with community is one of the most important elements of a healthy, fulfilling life. I show up to yoga, and I almost always leave in a better mood. More grounded, supported, and uplifted because of the people I share the space with.

Connection with the Self - Yoga has taught me how to listen to my body and to my mind. It helps me tap into the inner wisdom that exists within all of us, but can only be accessed when we quiet the noise and truly pay attention.

Connection with the Divine Source - Through my yoga practice, I’ve felt my deepest connection to Source, God, the Universe, or whatever word resonates most with you. Yoga creates space for that connection to be felt, rather than explained.

So many teachers I’ve encountered throughout my journey have inspired me and helped shape me into the best version of myself. I believe I carry the same potential to inspire others the way I’ve been inspired. Yoga is the method I use to connect, to inspire, and to create meaningful experiences, both on the mat and in my life.