I was raised in a Buddhist household, where my mother brought me along to her meditation retreats from infancy and began teaching me sitting practice at the age of five. She seemed to know, long before I did, that meditation would become both my companion and my lifeline. Over the years, my practice has carried me through the tragic loss of my first love at eighteen, the passing of my mother to cancer, and the heartbreak of abusive relationships, marriage, divorce and so much more. These experiences have all reminded me—again and again—that everything is temporary. I share the insights I’ve gathered in the hope that they may support your own path of inquiry, healing, and transformation.

At the same age I began meditating, I also began to dance. Movement has always been essential to how I connect with myself and process the world. I believe the body holds the subconscious—and that embodiment is necessary to truly ground mindfulness. Without it, we risk staying in the mind, trying to “figure it out,” instead of feeling it and living it. Dance eventually led me to travel and perform worldwide, calling places like New Orleans and Los Angeles home. And like many dancers, I found myself struggling with injuries and chronic pain. After years of seeking help—from chiropractors to massage therapists—I finally found Pilates.

Pilates, too, was life-changing. It was the first time in my movement journey that I felt strong, mobile, and completely pain-free. After five years of personal practice, I completed my classical, comprehensive teacher training through www.josephpilates.com in 2009. Since then, I’ve had the honor of teaching in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, and now, back in my hometown of Sebastopol, CA.

Over the past 16 years, perhaps because of my background in Buddhist practice, I’ve been called to work with clients who are often navigating pain—physical, emotional, or both. From professional athletes to those recovering from injury or trauma of all ages, back grounds and abilities. Again and again, I’ve seen how the body responds when given the right tools, attention, and trust.