Yoga Philosophy and Background
As a competitive athlete, an endurance sports coach, and an experienced yoga teacher, I truly understand exactly how yoga can complement—or be at odds with—training. I know that many athletes are turned off by yoga because it seems too easy (and becomes boring), too hard (and thus painful and intimidating), or out of sync with their training (leading to fears that they’re undermining their hard work). My goal is to create an environment that is easy enough, challenging enough, and can be modified to suit students’ needs.
Yoga for athletes isn’t necessarily athletic yoga—the intensity of the yoga must be in inverse proportion to the intensity of the athlete’s training. My work with team sports has taught me that not only should a yoga practice vary according to the sport and time of year, it also depends on the athlete's position, experience, and abilities.
My yoga teaching style uses both flow and long holds focusing on alignment and mindfulness. The flow generates heat, so that the longer holds can work more deeply. My focus in both yoga and training is form and breath: finding the most efficient, economical form and taking the fullest breaths available, in order to stay present even in intense situations.
Though I hated the first few yoga classes I attended in 1998—they weren’t lifting weights, they weren’t aerobic exercise, and I didn’t want to admit it, but they were frustratingly hard—while attending prenatal yoga classes, I came to see how yoga enriches other experiences. Taking a class once a week and practicing a little at home as well, I made it through my first marathon without many of the aches and pains that accompany high-mileage running. In 2003, I began teaching while earning my certification. I have also been trained in mat Pilates. I have been inspired by each of my teachers, including Lesa Crocker, Sunny Davis, Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Erich Schiffmann, and Shiva Rea. My current study is with Leslie Kaminoff, delving into yoga anatomy.
Carrboro Yoga Company schedule
Coaching Philosophy and Background
In addition to my coaching certifications, my education includes a PhD in English. Literature gives us insight into the human condition, helping us answer the question of what to make of our existence. Yoga and endurance sports do the same. They teach us how to use our bodies and minds to make sense of our souls. I learn from my training and practice sessions every day. By paying disciplined attention to form and breath during your workouts, you’ll improve your sport performance, as well as your mental focus. I want to help your training and racing become a fulfilling part of your life experience—another way to build strength (in the form of sport skill, speed, and endurance), flexibility (the ability to maintain equanimity on hard days and through stressful situations), and balance (engagement in various healthy, wide-ranging, complementary activities). You’ll gain insight about what to make of your existence.
I’ve been a runner for more than fifteen years, competing in road and trail races from the 5K to the marathon, and I’ve been a triathlete for six. In 2006, I raced shorter distances in the North Carolina Triathlon Series, finishing the season in second place in my age group and winning the age group in the series championship race. I wound up with a Mid-Atlantic all-region placing. In 2007, I enjoyed racing in the Endurance Triathlon Series (now the TSTDS; first-place female, 30–39); at the same time, I worked on distance, including a half-iron-distance race. I ran a PR (3:39) at the Kiawah Marathon in December.
In 2008, my emphasis was once-in-an-athletic-lifetime races: the Boston Marathon in April (3:43, re-BQ), and in June, the short-course triathlon world championships in Vancouver. In November, I joined my clients at the Beach 2 Battleship half-iron race in Wilmington, NC. In 2009, my peak race was Ironman Coeur d’Alene. I loved touring the five boroughs during the New York Marathon in November. In 2010, I enjoyed a 50K and a few championship races, including Southeastern Masters Track, where I ran the lead on the 4 x 400m, and the 10K USATF national trail championships. Fall included a great time in Richmond with the Runner’s World Challenge, which I joined again for a bliss-filled run at Big Sur in 2011.
On the docket for 2012: the Mount Mitchell Challenge, a 40-mile jaunt up and down the highest peak in the eastern United States.
