About Me
Born 1964 – (which MAY OR MAY NOT classify me as a Senior) I have learned to embrace this title and actually love it! I am the oldest of 7 in our blended family.
I grew up in a little town of 700 people and lived the American dream, until one day it all crashed as our family split and moved away. (Life happens) I experienced some tougher times, high school dropout, married at 17, divorced at 26, poverty level living, but all in all I still won’t complain. I had 2 very beautiful girls to make life just what it was all meant to be.
Best Job Ever – Being a MOM!
I got to work side by side with my mother as an activity director at a nursing home and had lots of instant grandparents.
FAST FORWARD……I am married to the love of my life, I did not know that anyone could be so wonderful. We have 4 children and seven grandchildren
One day life decided to turn down the roughest road I had ever thought imaginable. Our family carries the BRCA1 gene, my sister was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, and this began a long journey in so many ways, not only the grief, but the healing for all of us, mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally!
My yoga journey began shortly after this. I had been taking yoga for a few years prior, but something told me to take it further, in hopes to help my baby sister along her journey and to help me understand my journey with her. So off to school I went! With so much to learn and accept about the human body! We can help our bodies heal in a lot of ways, but some things we can only embrace and accept what we have. Never giving up, but sometimes giving in to what we cannot change, making the best of all we have. And so it begins, we share some natural ideas, some wonderful times in the hospital, simply smelling essential oils. All of this grows our love and love for God. She was an amazing rock! My sister lost her battle a little over 5 years later, at the age of 43.
Now to walk my own Journey, a few months after graduating, I decide to head out and try to find somewhere to use my knowledge and teach. Here I come again on a bumpy road! I myself was diagnosed with breast cancer, and tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene. OHHH BOY! I mustered up all the prayer, oils, and meditation skills in me to march forward. After an 8 hr surgery, double mastectomy and ovary removal, iIt’s time to heal and it was a long hard road.
Fast forward a year and I’m ready to teach, lets try this again! I had a wonderful year teaching at a local studio, Udana Yoga and Wellness in Oak Creek WI. Look out bumpy road I’m on my way back! Not just one, BUT, two knee replacements later! (due to degenerative arthritis) 5 months later, and I’m back. I was not having it any other way! One last mission – I needed to personally accomplish now – lose some weight. Now that I could move without pain – lets do it! 4 feet 11 inches and 185 lbs was not acceptable anymore now that I was able to move more. I still have a journey and don’t we all! But, keep on keeping on. Be kind to yourself. Accept what you have. Do what you can. Meet yourself where you are at. This is how my mission statement begins and the phrase was coined for YOGA HUGS. Heal – Understand – Grow – Strengthen.