FAQs

General

  • Connecting to the ever-changing energy and feelings in your body. Embodiment is the choice to return home to yourself, again and again.

    Many of us have habits around disconnecting from intense sensations in our bodies. Emotions are not just in the head, they are experienced throughout the body– as muscle contractions, breath changes, temperature changes, and more. It’s very natural and human to protect yourself from this intensity. However, these patterns often stay in our systems after the danger or stressor has gone away.

    Cultivate your capacity to hold space for your full emotional landscape, so that you can process what is ready to be seen, and release. Embodiment practices allow for non-conceptual processing, the space beyond words. A great complement to other modalities that are more verbal, such as affirmations, journaling, talk therapy.

    Expand your understanding of your body’s cues, so that you can be responsive and tend to your nervous system. Build a toolkit to rebalance, and re-establish your connection to your whole self. Your complexity is powerful.

  • The essence of all meditation is gathering awareness. Meditation can be moving, still, silent, with sound, centered on a prayer or chant, focused on a visualization, an energy practice, a breath pattern, a candle flame– the options are boundless, as creative as humans are.

    Embodiment practices are meditation practices that are about gathering awareness on the feelings in your body, fully experiencing each moment and the sensations available to you.

    Having a strong connection with your body creates an anchor for other practices. When you have built up returning to your body as a habit, you can trust your ability to recenter, and have the foundation for more expansive practices.

  • No, I am not a psychotherapist, and do not have any mental health training. I not a physical therapist and do not have medical training. None of my offerings or information on this site is a replacement for medical or mental health care.

  • No, I do not have any training in trauma healing. I aim to provide a trauma-informed space for survivors, but I cannot guide you through trauma healing. For support with trauma, consider the following organizations:

    Breathwork for Recovery— eating disorders, substance use disorder, trauma

    The Breathe Network— for sexual violence survivors

    If you have a history of trauma, understand that I am not a trauma therapist and still feel it would be beneficial to work together, I am open to working together. However, if I realize that I am not able to appropriately serve your needs, it would be unethical to continue working together and I will offer referrals for other providers who may be a better fit.

  • I aim to provide a supportive space for trauma survivors by establishing consent, appropriate boundaries, offering extra information, and using sensitive language. I am not a trauma therapist and cannot guide you through trauma healing

  • I plan to continue offering virtual options, in addition to in-person offerings in NYC (with COVID precautions).

    Virtual offerings allow folks to connect from their own space, which can be helpful for various reasons— such as time constraints, physical limitations, distance, social anxiety, or need for clear physical boundaries. Given the sensitivity of embodiment practices, sometimes being able to stay at home allows folks to open into more challenging emotions.

    I also love being able to connect and practice with people across the country and world!

Accessibility Information

  • My offerings are generally accessible to folks with vision impairment. I typically give verbal cues for all of the practices I engage with. If you are joining an in-person offering, please let me know and I’m happy to meet you at the entrance. In general feel free to reach out via the form below with questions/ to let me know what would support.

  • For virtual offerings I can offer closed-captioning and can make sure to demonstrate whenever possible. Please notify me in advance if possible.

    Please contact me via the form with any questions/ to discuss how I can best support you during in-person offerings.

  • 1on1s at Mark Morris Dance Center —fully accessible space. You will be laying on the ground, if getting up and down is not appropriate for your body, please contact me and we can discuss options, via the form below.

    For group offerings, see the offering description for details on the space’s accessibility.

  • All in-person group offerings that I host require are set up for 6-ft. distancing, and require masks when we are not distanced.

    In-person 1on1s are in a private studio that is large enough for us to be 6-ft. distanced and I am happy to mask, just let me know.

Breathwork

  • A practice for moving energy in the body and shaping the state of your being. Breathwork can support with nervous system balancing, and deepen your connection to your full emotional landscape. A powerful practice for transforming stuck energy.

    While breathing we gather awareness in the body (meditation), and allow the breath to support us in shifting the nervous system and guiding the body into a particular meditative state.

    There are a range of breath patterns, depending on the purpose of the practice. I typically offer instruction in pursed lips breath (a calming breath), and open mouth 3-part breath (moves more energy, increases oxygen). I always ask that you listen to your body, and breathe in the way that best supports you that day.

  • Breathwork has a range of benefits, depending on the specific breath practice and how it is utilized. The key benefits from the way I work with breathwork are:

    1) Reducing chronic stress and the related physical effects, such as gut issues, disrupted sleep, and chronic tension

    2) Rebalancing energy and flow by clearing excess energy, moving stuck energy, and building energy

    3) Expanding overall joy and pleasure

  • No, it’s very different. While many of the breath patterns I teach are rooted in yogic practice, the way we’ll utilize them is different. The length of time breathing, plus weaving in other practices has a profound impact on the nervous system.

  • There are many different forms of breathwork, and with appropriate caution breathwork can be a powerful tool for anyone.

    If you are in the first trimester of pregnancy or have any of the following health conditions, please consult a physician before participating in breathwork to ensure it is appropriate, and notify me before the class. I typically offer instruction in pursed lips breath (a calming breath), diaphragm breath (deep belly) and open mouth breath (moves more energy, increases oxygen). Especially the open mouth breath may be counterindicated for folks with:

    Cardiovascular disease

    Epilepsy

    Family history of aneurysm

    Glaucoma, not controlled by medication

    High blood pressure, not controlled by medication

    Retinal detachment

    Severe osteoporosis

    Strokes and neurological conditions

  • The experience varies greatly by person, and your state that day. The type of breath and length of the practice also shape the experience.

    Often people experience emotions surfacing, and the breath helps this energy to transform and release. As much as you feel comfortable, you’re welcome to cry, make sounds, move during breathwork.

    Breathwork helps me come home to myself, to fully feel my experiences and to feel more balanced and vibrant. In my blog post about my breathwork story, I break down my experience of shorter vs. longer breathwork practices and the main breath patterns I teach.

  • It depends on the person— there are many benefits to virtual and in-person practices.

    Embodiment practices are deeply personal, and can be quite vulnerable. Especially for folks who are sensitive to other people’s energy and emotions, virtual practice helps ensure clear boundaries, and may help you relax and truly drop in.

    Some people feel very nourished by in-person energy, and really held by group practice in person. If that is available and resonates for you, listen to your intuition. I am aiming to offer NYC in-person workshops starting in Summer/ Fall 2023, stay tuned!

  • I play music that to me feels grounding and calming, often R&B and soul. Some artists that have appeared on my playlists: Erykah Badu, Jhene Aiko, Alex Isley, Mereba, Raveena.

    For private sessions I am happy to take requests and play music without lyrics if that supports you, or even try breathing with calming sounds like waves/ crystal singing bowls.

Pilates

  • A movement technique that focuses on the foundational muscles— inner abdominals, muscles along the spine, and deep inside the shoulder girdle and hips. Pilates is great for deep strengthening, longevity and injury prevention.

    I teach mat pilates, meaning no equipment (may use small props). All exercises are low-impact, and I offer modifications to meet you where you are.

    Pilates is fundamentally different from yoga.

  • Pilates promotes long-term health by focusing on foundational muscles— especially those around the spine and vital organs. Pilates also realigns posture, which is essential to preventing injury and reducing common aches and pains, especially in the shoulders, back and hips.

    Reawaken dormant muscles and feel your full vitality. A breath practice at its core, pilates maximizes energy flow in the body.

  • When you register you’ll receive a confirmation email with the zoom link and details on how to set up your space.

    Please keep your camera on, so I can support with checking your form. If possible, set up your camera on a stool/ chair angled down, facing the long edge of your mat. This will give me the ideal view, but this isn't possible-- we work with what we have!

    All you need is a mat, or if you’re on a carpeted surface a large towel will work. You may also want a pillow/ folded blanket nearby (for tight muscles), and a glass of water.

  • Pilates is appropriate for many people, and I am happy to offer modifications for folks with less strength/ reduced mobility. Pilates is great for people of all ages.

    Pilates is a favorite practice of many dancers and athletes, because of the way it strengthens the body, promotes alignment and prevents injury. It’s a great complement to other high-impact or repetitive activities such as running and biking.

    Pilates is not physical therapy, and is not appropriate if you are currently injured. Please seek the advice of a medical professional if you have concerns regarding a recent injury.

    Please feel free to contact me via the form below with any questions regarding whether pilates is appropriate for you.

Still have questions?

Fill out the form and I’ll respond as soon as possible.