My initial reason for turning to yoga was simple: I wanted to become more flexible. My body had always been stiff, and I admired dancers and gymnasts for their grace and suppleness. That desire to move more like them led me to join a local gym at the age of 27, where I attended my first yoga class.
I still remember that class clearly—the man breathing loudly, which I found strange at the time, and the woman who seized every opportunity to go upside down, leaving me in awe. I naturally gravitated toward strong standing poses, and my goal-driven ego pushed me: “Go for the headstand. You can do it!” And eventually, I did. About a year later, I was able to balance comfortably in an inversion. While that gave me a brief sense of achievement, my practice felt unbalanced and incomplete.
In 2017, I completed my first 200-hour teacher training in Rishikesh, India. I was captivated by the precision of Iyengar teachings and the creativity of Vinyasa flows. That experience opened my eyes to how limited my understanding of yoga had been. I began to see that yoga exists not just on the mat, but in everyday life - if we choose to notice it.
Two years later, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which brought both physical and emotional challenges. It was a turning point. My body had changed, my energy was depleted, and restful sleep became rare. I was too weak to practise asana, but suddenly had time to read and reflect. Desperate for tools to help me sleep and manage anxiety, I discovered mindfulness meditation through MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). It helped me nurture my mental health and overall well-being.
This experience shifted the way I approached yoga. My once yang-focused, physically driven practice softened. Yin elements found their way in, and my approach became more balanced and therapeutic. Yoga became my sanctuary - a space to care for both physical injuries and emotional wounds.
In 2023, I returned to India to complete an advanced 300-hour teacher training.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of learning from traditional yoga masters who trained directly under renowned gurus such as Krishnamacharya, Pattabhi Jois, and B.K.S. Iyengar, as well as from exceptional Western teachers. Their wisdom and guidance have shaped my approach to this ancient practice, which I now have the joy of sharing with my students.
I continue to learn and develop my skills to offer my students a well-rounded experience while continually deepening my own knowledge.
I’m recently certified in Yin Yoga, Ayurveda, and Nutrition, and I’m currently training to become a SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) Yoga Teacher, combining my love of water with the joy of challenging balance.
I maintain my practice and draw inspiration from the Iyengar Yoga Institute in London and Dharma Yoga teacher Emi Tull. I’m also learning Sanskrit to connect more deeply with the language and sound of yoga, and I’ve been practicing mindfulness meditation with Andy Puddicombe via Headspace since 2017.
My intention is to integrate all these disciplines — yoga, mindfulness, Ayurveda, and nutrition — into a holistic and accessible approach to well-being that I can share with others.