​As a yoga teacher, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of yoga on people's mental health. Yoga is a holistic practice that not only strengthens the body but also calms the mind and soothes the soul. In this blog post, I discuss the importance of yoga for mental health and how it can help us manage stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
Yoga is a practice that focuses on connecting the mind, body, and breath. It combines physical postures (asanas), breathwork (pranayama), and meditation to create a holistic experience that promotes relaxation, stress relief, and emotional well-being. By practicing yoga regularly, we can reduce the symptoms of mental health conditions and improve our overall mental health.
One of the most significant benefits of yoga for mental health is stress reduction. Yoga helps us to release tension in the body and calm the mind, reducing the physical and emotional symptoms of stress. By practicing yoga, we learn how to relax and let go of our worries, which can improve our overall sense of well-being and make us more resilient to stress.
Yoga can also be helpful for anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression can make us feel stuck and disconnected from ourselves and the world around us. Yoga can help us reconnect with our bodies and our breath, allowing us to ground ourselves in the present moment and find a sense of inner peace. By practicing yoga, we can also improve our mood and increase our energy levels, which can be beneficial for those struggling with depression.
Additionally, yoga can help us cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness. By practicing yoga, we learn how to be present and pay attention to our thoughts and emotions without judgment. This can help us become more aware of our triggers and patterns and develop healthier coping mechanisms. By cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness, we can also improve our relationships with others and develop greater empathy and compassion.
I find that yoga is a powerful tool for promoting mental health and well-being. By practicing yoga regularly, we can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, improve our mood and energy levels, and cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness. As a yoga teacher, I encourage everyone to try yoga and experience its transformative power for themselves. Whether you're dealing with a mental health condition or simply looking to improve your overall sense of well-being, yoga can be a valuable tool in your journey towards optimal health and happiness.

Happy Spring Equinox! As a mindfulness outdoors teacher, I am passionate about helping people connect with nature and find peace and calm in their lives. One of the practices that I often recommend to my students is shinrin yoku, also known as forest bathing. I call it ZENwalk. Shinrin yoku is a Japanese practice that involves immersing oneself in nature and using all of our senses to connect with the natural environment. In this blog post, I share some of the benefits of forest bathing and how we can incorporate this practice into our daily lives.
The benefits of forest bathing are numerous and well-documented. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and improve our overall well-being. A ZENwalk involves taking a slow, leisurely saunter through the forest, allowing ourselves to be fully present and engaged with our surroundings. By doing so, we can experience a sense of peace and calm and connect with nature on a deeper level.
To practice shinrin yoku, we need to engage all of our senses. We can start by simply standing still and observing our surroundings. Notice the colors, shapes, and textures of the trees, leaves, and rocks around you. Listen to the sounds of the birds, the rustling of the leaves, and the flow of the water. Feel the coolness of the air on your skin and the texture of the ground beneath your feet. Smell the scents of the flowers and the earth.
As we walk through the forest, we can continue to engage our senses and become fully present in the moment. We can touch the trees and feel their rough bark, we can taste the wild berries, and we can sit and watch the wildlife. By doing so, we allow ourselves to connect with the natural environment and tap into its healing power.
Incorporating shinrin yoku into our daily lives does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. Even a short walk in the park or a quiet moment sitting under a tree can be enough to experience the benefits of nature. We can also make an effort to spend more time in nature, whether it's going for a hike or simply sitting outside and watching the sunrise or sunset.
As a mindfulness outdoors teacher, I believe that practicing shinrin yoku can be a powerful way to connect with nature and find inner peace and calm. By engaging all of our senses and becoming fully present in the moment, we can experience the healing power of nature and improve our overall well-being. So, why not take a moment today to step outside and connect with the natural world around you? You may be surprised at how much it can benefit your mind, body, and soul.

​As a yoga teacher, I am excited to announce that I will be teaching the upcoming yoga teacher training program at CCBC alongside my colleague, Melisa Uchida. This program is unique in that it is entirely accessible online through Zoom, making it convenient and accessible for students from all over the world.
One of the most exciting aspects of this program is that CCBC is offering grant money to students who meet certain requirements. This grant money can help to offset the cost of the program, making it more affordable for students who may be facing financial challenges.
The program is designed for students who are passionate about yoga and want to deepen their knowledge and practice. Over the course of the program, we will cover a range of topics, including yoga philosophy, anatomy, teaching methodology, and more. We will also provide ample opportunities for students to practice teaching and receive feedback and guidance from experienced teachers.
As the program is online, students will have the flexibility to complete the coursework at their own pace and on their own schedule. We understand that many students have busy lives and may not be able to commit to a traditional in-person program. By offering the program online, we hope to make it more accessible and convenient for students who may not have otherwise been able to participate.
We are also excited to bring our unique perspectives and experiences to the program. Melisa and I both come from diverse backgrounds and have studied various styles of yoga, including Ashtanga, Hatha, Vinyasa, and Restorative and Yoga Nidra. We believe that our diverse perspectives will help to create a well-rounded program that will benefit all students.
In conclusion, we are thrilled to be teaching the upcoming yoga teacher training program at CCBC. With the program being accessible online through Zoom and grant money being offered to eligible students, we hope to make the program as accessible and convenient as possible. We look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience with students from all over the world and helping to develop the next generation of yoga teachers.  
​Next yoga teacher training starts April 15. SIgn up here.

As a yoga teacher, I believe that joy is not only a fleeting emotion but rather a state of being that is our birthright. Joy is something that is not found outside of us but rather within us, and we just need to connect with it. However, with the fast-paced and stressful lives that we lead, we often forget this simple truth and get caught up in our daily struggles. In this blog post, I discuss how we can connect with our innate joy and live a more fulfilling life.
The first step towards experiencing joy as our birthright is to understand that we are not our thoughts, emotions, or external circumstances. We are much more than that. We are spiritual beings having a human experience, and our true essence is love, light, and joy. When we realize this truth, we can detach ourselves from the temporary ups and downs of life and connect with our deeper selves.
The practice of yoga provides us with a powerful tool to connect with our inner joy. Yoga helps us to quiet our minds, tune into our bodies, and tap into our inner wisdom. Through asana, pranayama, and meditation practices, we can release stress, anxiety, and negative emotions, and create space for joy to arise. In yoga philosophy, joy is considered one of the highest states of consciousness, and it is said that when we connect with our inner joy, we experience a sense of oneness with all of creation.
Another important aspect of experiencing joy as our birthright is to cultivate gratitude in our lives. When we focus on what we have rather than what we lack, we shift our perspective and open ourselves up to joy. Gratitude helps us to appreciate the small things in life and recognize the abundance that surrounds us. We can practice gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal, saying thank you more often, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the beauty around us.
Finally, it is essential to surround ourselves with positive people and environments that uplift us. When we spend time with people who radiate joy and positivity, we are more likely to feel the same way. Similarly, when we spend time in nature or engage in activities that bring us joy, we are more likely to connect with our inner joy.
I believe joy is not something that we need to seek outside of ourselves. It is already within us, waiting to be discovered. As a yoga teacher, I encourage my students to connect with their inner joy by practicing yoga, cultivating gratitude, and surrounding themselves with positive people and environments. When we live from a place of joy, we not only experience more happiness but also spread positivity and love to those around us through something as simple as a smile.