Purpose and Mission

My early foundation was shaped by values of integrity, respect, and compassion for others, principles similar to Yama, the first limb of Patanjali’s Eightfold Path. Before I fully understood yogic philosophy, the core idea of the Golden Rule (acting with kindness and justice) was ingrained in my worldview. This ethic served as a constant guide throughout my life, even when I didn’t yet see its spiritual depth.

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My formal introduction to mind-body-spirit practices occurred during my undergraduate studies at Kent State University, where I explored classical traditions while being introduced to Vinyasa yoga and Tai Chi. These practices initially helped me maintain balance, focus, and physical health amidst academic pressures. Over time, through lived experience, I realized how deeply they influenced my internal world. Yoga philosophy, emphasizing awareness, self-acceptance, and presence, arrived subtly yet precisely when I needed it, providing insights that went far beyond the physical practices.

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During this time, I developed a strong calling toward education and service. Helping others grow and learn came naturally and felt meaningful, guiding me into the field of education and later into graduate studies in Secondary Education and School Counseling. Over the years, yoga remained a constant presence, sometimes a central focus and other times more peripheral, helping me build strength, resilience, and emotional regulation as my life took on new directions.

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As I entered marriage, motherhood, and the pursuit of my career, I gradually deprioritized personal wellness. The practices that once kept me grounded diminished unnoticed. When I first encountered Reiki during that time, I wasn’t prepared to accept it. Looking back, I see this not as resistance, but as a sign of how disconnected I had become from my own body and inner world while managing external pressures and expectations.

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What came next was not a failure but a reshaping. Life changed significantly, with the loss of a teaching job, the end of a marriage, and the upheaval caused by the pandemic. Although challenging, these events brought me back to my true self. Yoga reemerged not as a duty or a show but as a vital support. I completed a 200-hour online teacher training and began teaching Gentle Yoga, regaining awareness, stability, and confidence in my body’s insight.

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From that point, my journey naturally grew more profound. I kept teaching and revisiting academic environments, while my dedication to yoga philosophy and embodied practice deepened. Finding Shine Education and Retreat Center (initially indirectly, then firsthand through a 500-hour teacher training) marked another major turning point. Whereas earlier settings focused mainly on the physical, Shine offered spiritual and philosophical depth that truly felt like home.

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This immersion reignited the Eightfold Path not just as an idea but as a lived reality. Strength was paired with gentleness. Discipline evolved into discernment. Stillness transformed into a source of clarity, not a retreat. From this foundation, my journey naturally grew to include meditation, Reiki, energy awareness, and integrative healing practices.

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Today, these principles guide how I listen, teach, parent, guide, and care for myself. My experiences have shown me that healing and growth occur not through force or hustle, but through presence, attunement, and respect for one’s inner rhythms. This insight shapes how I support others: not as an authority over their journey, but as a steady companion walking beside them.