I first discovered yoga at the beginning of high school when I had left my ballet studio of nine years to focus on tennis and volleyball. Even though I loved being an athlete, I missed the artistry and grace that ballet brought to my life. I was craving a way to stay in touch with my body while expressing movement intentionally and mindfully. 

Yoga became my perfect balance. I became stronger, more flexible, and it helped me to stay more grounded in my body during sports. Not only did I feel better, but I also played better. It made such a difference that other girls on the tennis and volleyball teams joined me in starting a yoga practice. 

As I started college, yoga became a constant in my life. I was no longer involved in athletics, and while I’ve never been an extremely competitive person, I missed the discipline and structure sports provided me. After my freshman year at UW-Madison, I tried a hot yoga class in my hometown, Kalamazoo, Michigan. I immediately fell in love. The intensity, focus, and determination shared in a hot studio changed my life. Hot yoga became my way to better both my physical and mental resiliency. 

I fell in love with the hot yoga community, and eventually began working at Intentional Yoga in Kalamazoo. I learned how powerful a consistent practice became for building community and confidence in the studio. When I came back to school, I began to look for a new home for my hot yoga practice. I found Inner Fire Yoga in the fall of 2024, and I fell in love with the community and collective effort to ‘reach higher and burn brighter’. My experience at Inner Fire Yoga has been nothing but welcoming and motivating, and I am grateful for the opportunity to further contribute to this incredible atmosphere. 

The number one thing I prioritize in my life is balance. Hot yoga has been my way to find a balance of intensity and peace, strength and softness. It challenges me to remain disciplined and show up as a better version of myself each day. For me, yoga is a way to find peace in chaos, and to carry over my patience and gratitude from my practice to all other aspects of my life. 

Outside of the studio, I am a senior at UW-Madison studying Economics and Marketing, with a minor in Sustainability. When I’m not practicing yoga, you can find me running by Lake Mendota, playing piano, or exploring new restaurants around Madison. I also love live music and spending time with friends and family at concerts!