How I Found My Way to the Mat (Part 1)

They say you can’t know where you’re going until you remember where you’re from.

For me, "from" is Hackettstown, New Jersey. It’s a place of unapologetic energy, the best bagels and pizza you’ll ever have, and a high school experience (Class of ’08) that felt like the center of the world at the time.

I grew up with a deep love for movement (dance, cheerleading, theater) and a drive to create, which led me straight into the fast-paced world of fashion school as a fashion major in college.

But life has a way of showing you when a path isn't yours to walk.

The Pivot

I quickly realized that the "glamour" of fashion wasn't feeding my soul. I pivoted to Psychology, driven by a need to understand the human mind, but the internal pressure began to mount. I navigated heavy bouts of anxiety and depression—the kind that makes you feel like you're losing your footing.

Eventually, I made the hardest choice I’d ever made: I dropped out. (I actually dropped out of school twice)

It wasn't a failure; both times were a pause. With the incredible support of my family and a lot of soul-searching, I realized I needed a change of scenery—a different kind of earth beneath my feet.

The Colorado Shift

In 2016, I moved to Colorado to finish my degree. I minored in Dance, returning to the movement that had always felt like home, but my life outside the studio was becoming just as transformative. I continued working with children on the autism spectrum through play and behavior therapy, continuing to hold space for others while learning the silent, powerful language of communication that happens beyond words.

And all the while, I was practicing yoga. It was my anchor during long college nights and high-stress workdays in the mountains. I didn't know then that the mat was preparing me for a complete life overhaul.

The Great Reset

Then came 2019. I met my husband, Ali, and just as we were moving in together, the world shut down.

COVID-19 shifted everything. I was working as a Social Services Director, navigating the intensity of a global crisis from the front lines. It was a role that demanded everything I had, and it eventually led me to a breaking point—and a breakthrough. I realized I needed to share the tools that had actually sustained me through the noise.

Why I Teach

I teach yoga because after years of navigating the highs and lows of anxiety, career pivots, and the heavy lifting of working in humans services, I realized that yoga is the only language that allows you to truly come home to yourself.

The Takeaway

This is just the beginning of the story. It’s been a bumpy road from Jersey bagels to Colorado mountains, but every stumble was just a step toward the person I am today.

In Part 2, I’ll dive into how a career in human service fields finally pushed me to trade my office chair for a yoga mat.

I’ll see you on the mat.