Certified Yoga Teacher

Authorized Scolio-Pilates® Practitioner

 

I grew up as a dancer. My St. Louis based dance studio became a second home. And while I was diagnosed with scoliosis in middle school, I was told it wasn’t severe enough to treat so kept moving my body in the ways I always had. By the time I left undergrad with a degree in journalism, I entered my early twenties already experiencing back pain. 

It wasn't long after that I developed a love for vinyasa yoga, and obtained my teaching certification. At the time, I had never heard of hypermobility or understood how it could affect an already vulnerable spine. By the time I was 26, I developed SI joint dysfunction. Through physical therapy, I discovered the stabilizing benefits of Pilates, and decided to add that to my certifications, while continuing to teach yoga. At 33, after having my first child, I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and stenosis of my lumbar spine.

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The first surgeon I consulted recommended a fusion, then described how hard of a surgery that is to undergo and recover from, and I left with instructions not to bend forward, backward, or to the side, not to twist or lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. I had a 1 year old at the time. So I sought a second opinion from a doctor who encouraged me to continue to build core strength, prolong the surgery as long as possible, and let pain guide me in what movements to avoid. I decided to switch the focus of my practice to Pilates, which has enabled me to avoid surgery and have a second child with no progression in my injury.

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I’ve learned firsthand how imbalances caused by scoliosis can lead to compensation and further injuries, and I believe that mindful movement is the best medicine. I’ve worked hard to find ways to keep my body strong without increasing my pain level or compromising my spine. Through scoliosis-safe Pilates, and applying Pilates principles to other low impact forms of exercise, I get an effective workout while keeping my body in alignment. This is how the idea for The Reformed Method was born.

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I've spent over 15 years teaching Pilates and yoga, and recently broadened my expertise through a focused Scolio-Pilates® certification. My goal is to share with my clients the knowledge I wish I had when I was diagnosed.