I'm not a quitter, and I had the proof until two years ago.

I hadn't quit a job, not really—summer jobs ended naturally, and my steady job fizzled out as I went off to university. Even then, I returned on holidays to pick up shifts until life didn’t support that anymore. (I wonder if I’m still on the payroll; I never did give two weeks' notice, circa 2007.)

Then, in 2022, within 120 days, I quit two jobs. The career I spent 15 years building and its replacement, where I had placed too many hopes and dreams to see the delusion it was wrapped in. Sometimes, illusions propel us toward the right decisions we should have made all along. Quitting was scary—really scary. A week later, I completed an advanced yoga teacher training program.

I found my passion for yoga in 2017 after I started working from home. I was in the mood to move my body while avoiding Central Oregon’s harsh winter temperatures and relished the opportunity for a 20-minute exercise over lunch. Plus, as someone who was a chronically stressed-out, type-A personality, I LOVED the idea of “being Zen”—who doesn’t like those people?

What ha-happened was... each time I showed up on my mat to get stronger or more flexible, yoga was working on my anxiety. My curiosity about how yoga was making these monumental shifts in my way of thinking and being led me to my first teacher training in 2021. Lots of people take yoga teacher trainings for deeper study, not expecting to teach or enter the yoga industry, and this was my expectation. But, once again, yoga had something more planned. I found that I not only loved practicing yoga—I loved instructing and sharing it with others, so I quickly signed up for my next training with the intention of really understanding how yoga heals – I’m one of those people who needs to know the “why” behind the “what”.

It wasn’t a coincidence when the career I built under false pretenses came crumbling down at the exact moment my yoga foundation was set. Teacher training provided the tools I would need to navigate my discomfort with unemployment—which I renamed "FUNemployment"—and the confidence and faith to make the leap into yoga therapy training. This solidified my decision not to return to corporate ambitions, but instead to take the time to learn and heal before embarking on my own path.

Rather than succumbing to the pressure of trying to figure it all out, I retreated and placed value on rest. I grieved the loss of my first dog, I played in nature—climbing over 100 mountains with Isaac and the pups—and poured my whole heart and soul into studying and practicing yoga therapy.

When the timing began to feel right, I went back to work—for myself and for the students I have the honor of sharing the healing power of yoga with. It took great courage to pause and realign my life, but I believe we owe it to ourselves to do this as many times as it takes to design a life we’re in love with. I now see my healing pause as strength, not weakness, and uncertainty as my greatest teacher.

Your pain isn’t your fault, but it is yours to heal. Yoga removes the burden of having to have it all figured out. If you’re interested in joining the Home & Yoga community starting November 2024, I’ve started a waitlist for founding members.

Founding members will help me shape the community and receive lifetime pricing. You can see more details and sign up for the Founding Member Waitlist here.