In 1988 I was living and working in Boston, managing the city's Refugee English and Employment Services programs. I was drinking two to three cups of coffee a day, worrying about the state of the world, and ignoring my body. During that year, I read Bernie Siegel's book, Love, Medicine and Miracles, and realized that I was living an unhealthy lifestyle. A friend of mine told me about the healing benefits of yoga, and I signed up for a class. I found myself dissolving layers of tension and relaxing for the first time in my life. I gave up coffee, ate more vegetables and less sugar, started sleeping better and worrying less. I started to feel more hopeful about the world and life in general. A few months later, I went to a "Welcome Weekend" at Kripalu Center in Massachusetts. I completely fell in love with the place, the people and the style of yoga.

It was the first time I was invited to tune in to my body's inner wisdom and move from within. Practicing yoga in this way opened my heart and soul in a profound way. I moved to Kripalu two months later. At the age of 28, I found myself learning basic life lessons— how to breathe, walk, stand, chew, feel, and communicate in a life-affirming way. In the seven years that I lived and worked at the Center, I learned not only the physical mechanics of yoga, but yoga as a way of life. Living in community was an incredibly growthful experience.

I started teaching yoga and I began directing the Kripalu Yoga teacher training in 1994. I had the great fortune of meeting and marrying, Todd Norian, another yoga teacher, while I was living there. In 1998 I met John Friend (founder of Anusara Yoga) at a yoga conference and I had an instant recognition that this was going to change my life. I have spent the last 4 years re-educating my body, my practice, and my approach to life based on the wonderful influence of Anusara and the teachings of John. It has been incredibly strengthening and therapeutic for my body, and has provided a safe road map for advanced practice. I feel more empowered and more connected to the continual flow of grace in my life. In addition, my teaching style now includes more precise alignment principles and therapeutics that help people move from pain to freedom. I have experienced the transformational power of Anusara yoga in my life and have seen the miracle of healing in my students.