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. As the child of educators and having taught English composition and literature while earning my PhD, I enjoy being in front of a classroom.

I have taught yoga to athletes for more than six years, both at the Carrboro Yoga Company, which I co-own, and at the UNC Hospitals Wellness Center, where I co-sponsor the multisport club, Team UNC Wellness. My students range from “regular” people to recreational athletes to former Olympians, elite triathletes, and Ironmen. I work with the University of North Carolina football team, teaching them yoga for postgame recovery. (The players’ favorite poses: happy baby and corpse.) I hold national certification as an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, having taught over 1,000 hours. I have also been trained in mat Pilates. I have been inspired by each of my teachers, including Lesa Crocker, Sunny Davis, Sarah Powers, Erich Schiffmann, Shiva Rea, and Baron Baptiste.

As an expert in yoga for athletes, I lead workshops nationwide. I have taught to full rooms at Yoga Works Downtown in New York City, Circle Yoga in Washington, DC, and Yoga Tree in San Francisco. I lead an annual weekend workshop at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health—next year, it’ll be February 4–6, 2011.