Where are you from originally?  California

How long have you lived in Chattanooga?  September 2017

Tell us about your childhood:   

My sister is 17 years older than me – so I grew up almost like an only child. In California, we had a pool and the ocean wasn’t far, so I grew up in the water. Swimming, surfing, kayaking…anything that had to do with water was my favorite thing to do! I was also very involved in music and began playing the violin when I was 3 years old.

My parents both worked in academia and so I was fortunate to be raised on a university campus, surrounded by people from many different countries and cultures.  It was not uncommon to come home to a house full of all kinds of people who liked to share their food and language and customs with us.  This background has made me very curious about the world and to be comfortable with almost everyone I meet!

Do you have a nick name? When I was little I insisted that everyone call me Flower. 

When were you introduced to Yoga?  I started with a yoga DVD in my mid 20s.  But it wasn’t until attending a yoga retreat in my early 30’s that I truly fell in love with yoga and immediately sought out an amazing teacher at home.

How do yoga and the community play a role in your life? I have spent much of my adult life traveling for work and learned early on that yoga studios were a safe haven from the stress of my job and a place where I would always be welcome.  So when I moved to Chattanooga, I immediately sought out a studio to become my new home.  It’s amazing how quickly the person who practices next to you on the mat, becomes a friend I look forward to seeing several times a week.  I’m grateful everyday for my yoga family and am always excited to share my love of yoga with them!

What pose do you love the most and why? This changes – but right now I really love Pyramid (parsvottanasana).  It  makes me feel both strong and flexible at the same time

What is your favorite quote?  By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.”