Yoga Practice

Celebrating my 46th birthday
in Viparita Karani

My teaching philosophy

I graduated from The Yoga Room, Berkeley’s 500-hour Advanced Studies Program in June 2014. Through my yoga studies I developed an affinity for teaching restoratives and gentle yoga; guiding my students to find relaxation, relief and renewal through body-mind-breath awareness. 

My Inspiration for practicing and teaching Yoga Restoratives is my Grammie, Sylvia Plotkin who taught yoga up to the year she passed away at the age of 94. While growing up in Stamford, Connecticut Grammie would have us lay on the floor, close our eyes, notice our breath, relax our bodies and guide us in clearing our thoughts. She believed in homeopathic healing and natural cooking - although it was always fun to get her to drink a sip of bourbon so we could see her giggle, 'Oh, I feel it in my legs!' she would say.

When I release into a yoga restorative asana I feel my Grammie there with me, I hear her voice and I sense her in my breath. This is a photo of Grammie in Scotland, gazing out over a loch and convening with nature.

Values:

Building a supportive community 
Exploring self-understanding

Nancy Leigh-Smith, my yoga mentor, 
presenting me with my Berkeley Yoga Room
Advanced Studies Program 
certification in June 2014.

Treating others as I want to be treated

Embracing creativity

Life-long learning

Mission:

Guiding life-long learners to reach your fullest potential through creative body, mind and breath practices that nurture self-understanding in a supportive community environment. 

Reiki Levels 1 and 2, USUI/Holy Fire Reiki RYOHO
certification in August 2018.