A little about me

Hi, I’m Andrea! I’m a yoga teacher, author, introvert GenXer. I love starting knitting projects and might have a sizeable yarn stash! I grew up in Southern California but have been living in Northeastern Oklahoma for, uh… let’s just say “quite a while.” Yes, that sounds good. I published my first novel in 2018 and am still writing today, as well as editing fiction. Yoga and writing are complementary – I’m so glad I found them both.

I believe in personal integrity, and focusing on what I want to see more of in this world, rather than obsessing over the problems. I want to add joy to people’s lives, and I love adding humor or lightness to my yoga classes. We all need more laughter, and more importantly, reasons to laugh.

What brought me to yoga

In 2011 I was diagnosed with PTSD and have dealt with anxiety for my whole life. It was ultimately those issues that first brought me to yoga in 2014. As soon as I stepped on my mat, I had my “ah-ha” moment. It felt like home. It felt like a place I would be able to meet the parts of me I had lost.

I was right.

I worked in corporate America until 2015, when I noticed that every time I opened a spreadsheet, I started to cry (and I love spreadsheets, just not someone else’s, apparently!). I had a sneaking suspicion there might be more to life than identifying myself by what my job was.

Why I teach

In 2016 I basically stumbled into yoga teacher training. Best move ever! I got my RYT500 certification in 2018 and after taking some Yin Yoga training that year, began to specialize in that area. I also went through Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher training in 2017, which was an invaluable experience.

In addition to teaching Yin, I also love teaching gentle yoga. I used to teach more powerful classes, but these days I love how slow, deliberate movement can be just as challenging. I also love that this type of slow movement (or no movement, in the case of Yin) can provide more space for play and observation. Our everyday lives don’t give us many opportunities for that type of reflection.

In 2018 I started teaching chair yoga. It’s important to me that everyone realizes they can do yoga – no matter your age or ability, you can find healthy ways to move your body. And I’ve discovered that chair yoga can be waaaaay more challenging than I thought!

Why practice with me?

If you feel that you’ve become disconnected from your self—these days it’s easy to lose that “mind/body” connection that’s talked about so often—then the classes offered on this site are for you. If you appreciate the idea that slowing your life down is not only enjoyable but absolutely necessary to experience optimal health, you’ve found the right place. If you’re looking for ways to move and breathe in healthy ways to enjoy and appreciate your physical form—whatever shape it’s in—then welcome.

The practice of yoga is just that – a practice. We might always have busy lives and some level of anxiety or stress. That’s just life. But with the help of a regular yoga practice, we can learn ways to self-regulate and take care of ourselves, so life doesn’t have to become overwhelming. By moving and stretching, and paying attention to the quality of your breathing, you can create the space in your life for more joy, abundance and growth.

That’s why I’m here, and why I hope you’ll practice with me soon.

Questions? Let’s chat!

Feel free to reach out if there’s anything I can help you with.