DoYoga was born the way any good idea is born- around a dinner table with good food, good wine, and great friends. As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, I am in fact a DO and I want everyone to DoYoga! I began practicing yoga as a method of stress relief and exercise while a student at Vanderbilt University as both a method of stress relief and a way to stay fit. Although I continued my yoga practice throughout grad school at the University of Illinois and medical school at Michigan State, it wasn’t until my medical residency in South Carolina that I developed a daily practice. While working 80+ hours a week, I found I had little time or energy for a traditional workout. I began cultivating a daily home yoga practice reinforced by practices at my local studios and eventually my yoga practice became a part of my daily life. Through yoga, I found the ability to restore my own mind, body and spirit while working long and demanding days helping to heal others. After completing my residency training, my husband Jaakko and I moved to our current home in Benton Harbor, MI. Here, I was fortunate to find a new medical practice, new free time, and a new yoga instructor. Under the tutelage of Adrienne White (E-RYT 500), I completed my 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher training in 2017. My teaching style is relaxed but with a focus on physical alignment and integration of the mind, body, and breath. I enjoy making the practice of yoga safe and accessible for students of all levels and abilities, from true newbies to more experienced practitioners. As a physician, the safety and comfort of students is always my priority and allows me to accommodate those with health conditions or injuries as well. I am currently completing my Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher training with Mamata Yoga’s Claire Newman (E-RYT 500, RPYT), and I look forward to offering more individualized instruction to my pre- and postnatal students soon. I believe that yoga is not only meant for a studio and enjoy teaching in a variety of locations, outside and in. I specialize in private lessons, group events and weddings (iDoYoga) in any setting. My favorite places to teach so far have been on the rooftop patio at Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo and the outdoor deck at North Pier Brewing in St. In my free time, I can be found traveling, hiking, kayaking, and going to the beach, drinking craft beer and local wine, shopping at the local farmers market for goodies I cannot coax into growing in my own garden and spending time with my husband and our 3 fur babies.
