Cultivating Wellness

From Stress to Serenity: Transforming Lives through Yoga and Mindful Movement

Inspired by Laura’s journey from yoga enthusiast to dedicated practitioner and teacher, our mission is to bring the healing and restorative powers of yoga and mindful movement to everyone. We recognize the burden of trauma and stress carried within our bodies and offer yoga as a method for release and recovery. Our goal is to provide a safe and nurturing space for people to explore yoga as a tool for mental and physical wellness.

Background

You may know me as a researcher and public health scientist, but I also teach yoga. For most of my adult life, yoga was something I dipped in and out of: Rodney Yee DVDs, occasional studio classes with friends, or a YouTube session when I needed a break. That changed in 2020. I found myself ‘celebrating’ my birthday on Zoom, when a friend mentioned a yoga teacher who was offering twice-weekly virtual classes. I decided to try, and that small decision shifted my relationship with yoga.

Like many people, I had increased anxiety and depression while living through a global pandemic. Yoga gave me a reliable place to breathe and settle myself. Daily practice helped me manage big feelings, especially during a time when the world felt heavy for everyone. I committed to showing up on the mat every day for a year. The more I practiced, the more I realized how much there was to learn.

That curiosity pushed me to start a 500-hour training with My Vinyasa Practice so I could understand the philosophy and structure behind what I was doing. Around the same time, I began practicing regularly on Glo with Jason Crandell, whose straightforward and methodical teaching style resonated with me. His clarity and pace helped me grow in ways I did not expect. I wanted to improve my teaching style, so I completed a second 200-hour training with Jason.

I see yoga as more than physical practice. It is a way to quiet the nervous system, reconnect with yourself, and release stress held in the body. I welcome anyone who is curious, new, returning, or somewhere in between. Yoga is accessible to everyone, and I am grateful to share this practice with you.