I have been practicing yoga since 2000, and the benefits I receive from my personal practice motivated me to learn to teach yoga to others. I truly believe the world would be a better place if everyone practiced yoga, and I am trying to do my part to introduce yoga to as many people as I can. In 2008, I earned my RYT 200 hour certification from YogaFit, whose motto "yoga for everybody and every body" is something I strongly believe in. One of the many beautiful things about yoga is that no two bodies will ever look the same in a yoga pose; each of us has our own individual expression of a pose. Through yoga we can learn to honor and accept our bodies as they are, and everyone should feel welcome and comfortable in a yoga class, not just those students with picture-perfect, flexible yoga bodies! All bodies can benefit from a regular, physical yoga practice and gain improved balance, greater flexibility, increased muscular strength and endurance, a more stable metabolism, and lowered blood pressure among other benefits.

As healthy as yoga is for the body, it is equally as important for the mind. In fact, a regular yoga practice cultivates the mind-body connection we are all capable of having, and teaches us how to find peace and acceptance in times of stress, something I learned firsthand during a particularly stressful time in my own life. I honestly don't know how I would have coped with my situation had I not been able to turn to my yoga practice. I am grateful every day to the teachers who have inspired me along my journey, and I hope to share my love of all that is yoga with many others as well.