“Undiagnosed bipolar disorder, substance abuse & toxic relationships were running my life until things finally got so bad I quit my interior design job, left San Francisco & moved back in with my parents in Smalltown, Idaho
In the depth of my depression, I thought a lot about suicide. My mind & body were disconnected and I felt imprisoned by my mind. I didn’t know where to start with the drastic changes I knew I needed to make
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The first few months back home, the only thing I could drag myself out of bed for was yoga because I knew I didn’t have to talk to anyone while I was there. Yoga started as an excuse, a reason to get out of the house, but it hooked me quickly
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The sacred, safety of the yoga studio & the fierce, calm presence of my teachers drew me back every day, as I started to witness my body and mind integrate and get stronger. I got the psychiatric help I needed and despite my fear of starting medication, my yoga practice carried me and reaffirmed the need for self acceptance & equanimity
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When I completed my 200 hour YTT, about a year after moving home, I saw clearly what a critical role yoga had played in my recovery
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Yoga gifted me the determination to fight to reconnect my mind, body & spirit. Learning how to teach yoga is an ongoing process, an aspirational goal, and the most humbling, life affirming experience in my life
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People often ask me how I’m able to be so open & vulnerable about my struggle with mental illness and my answer is because of yoga. Yoga showed me how to be honest with myself, follow my passions, & give back to my community. In other words, yoga saved my life.”
