Uh-huh that’s me at a yoga training chomping down chocolate.. what a surprise… notice the four more chocolates waiting on my bag...

Its funny how our journey begins...

The late 90’s found me working in the luxury apartment leasing industry, and struggling to make it as a artist.  My job wasn’t fulfilling, and my art. . . well -  I pretty much would of lost it if I heard the phrase, “ come back and see us when you’re work has matured” one more time.  A friend suggested yoga… I thought why not? I’ll try anything once…

I vividly remember my first class with Simone at Triangle Yoga in North Carolina… she was talking some absurd language, and helping me to move my body correctly in and out of an Iyengar based flow… and then at the end of class while laying down in relaxation she came over and lengthened the back of my neck, and pressed my shoulders down into the floor… I was totally gone… blissed out in a way I couldn’t remember since I was a child. I would swear in that moment the course of my life changed.  I remember thinking that there was in fact something to this yoga thing, and that although I couldn’t put my finger on what that was, I wanted to teach it.

My strongest belief is that intention creates manifestation, and as such, a few years later in the summer of 2000, I quite literally got drop kicked into teaching yoga.  I was working in a health club in Portsmouth and had just gotten my personal training certificate.  When the current yoga teacher left the club, they asked me and my friend Betty if we wanted to teach. What an opportunity. . . so off we went to Yogavermont, that’s where I met Kath.  I owe so much of the best of what I am as a teacher to Kathy McNames… I was one of her first teacher trainees, and she was one of my first real teachers. My love for her is endless. She taught me respect for the practice,  how to be playful in life and in teaching, the importance of human touch, how to work with the human body, and more than anything else how to lead your life as an open book.  She introduced me to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and showed me how to not be overwhelmed by the thousands of years of yoga philosophy.  She made me truly believe that when it comes to teaching nobody really gives a hoot whether you pronounce your Sanksrit correctly, they only want you to show up, be present, and care. 

That was truly the beginning, after training with Kath, I dove in with both feet and haven’t looked back.  Everything unfolded the way it was exactly supposed to… After teaching for about a year Dover Yoga was born and took it’s first big, giant breath.  It came out kicking and screaming like a healthy baby should… much like raising a baby (or so I’m told), it’s not always easy, but it‘s been a hell of a journey… and all good journey’s should have their hills and valleys… otherwise there would be no stories to tell.

I am so thankful for the warm floors, the soft lights, and the sacred presence of Dover Yoga… if only these walls could talk… the stories they could share.  Sometimes really late at night I go to the studio, lay down in the middle of the floor, close my eyes and just feel the space… it always makes me cry. I feel so blessed. It is the staff and the members that are the backbone of everything Dover Yoga is… The most talented teachers in the entire country have chosen to offer their talents at Dover Yoga, they give their hearts completely every time they step foot through these doors. They teach me daily what true yoga practice is… not the stuff you do on your mat, that’s just fluff that makes you healthy… no, true yoga practice is what you do when your off your mat… and that’s what really counts.  As for the rest of the staff… their dedication and support carries me through each day, and keeps all of us going forward.  And finally the members… you are why we are here, you are truly the breath in the walls that makes this place sacred and good...

I am eternally grateful to all my teachers, firstly my staff and students who are my greatest teachers, and also Daniel Orlansky my dear friend and mentor whose presence always makes my shoulders drop six inches, truly a great and honorable man… Kathy Van Patten at Boston Bodyworks whose grace and knowledge taught me that Pilates can be both a dance and a journey to the center of our beautiful bodies... Saul David Raye who taught me not only Thai Bodywork but compassion...  Eeve B. Crowe my Shaman and soul sister who helps me get to the astral plane and pushes me to face all the sides of myself, the pretty and the not so pretty... and all my other mentors…. Doug Swenson, Jonas Westring, Joseph and Lillian LePage, Kim Valeri and Shubal, Erin & Kevin O'Keefe, Emily and Matt from Pilobolus, the whole Nimble Arts Gang and the many others I’ve failed to mention.   When I wake up in the morning I give thanks for having all of you in my life, you continue to touch my soul.  And Mom and Dad if you read this, thank you, thank you, thank you…  the most valuable lessons in my life have come from you, I love you so much, thanks for giving me your strength year after year, and teaching me that love heals and family matters. And to my soulmate Matt, it is your patience and calm with me, and unwavering lightness and strength that makes my heart sing. Thank you for supporting all my hair-brained schemes - I love you forever.

Yoga is the most powerful aphrodisiac in the world, it balances you completely, it intoxicates your mind, and liberates your soul.  It’s totally juicy.  It has this way of taking every truth you believe and making you question it, it makes you stronger, it makes you humble, it causes you to reflect and tune in. It makes you want to make a difference, and forces you to believe that one second of goodness can create a lifetime of miracles.  I wouldn’t change a single part of this journey… I am so grateful. Love, love, love. . .

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