Jessica began her yoga journey in 1997, during a challenging time of grief and change within her life. Yoga was a steadying force that allowed her to get through those moments with inner strength, peace and acceptance. To this day, her practice continues to offer a stability that helps her to accept the heartaches and fully embrace the joys of living. She found great physical transformation from yoga, learning to bring the body into balance and out of the chronic pain she once endured, caused by a congenital fusion in her cervical spine.
Jessica became a certified yoga instructor in 2007, with the intention to guide others towards healing and access to an internal calm presence that helps us navigate this rocky world! She is an E-RYT 500 with over 2000 hours of training and a certified Level 2 Reiki practitioner. Some of her most influential teachers are: Amy Ippoliti, Christina Sell, Elena Brower, Julie Dohrman, Abby Tucker, Ellen Saltonstall, Lois Nesbitt, Sally Kempton, Hareesh Wallis and Dr. Bruce Perry of the Child Trauma Academy. Her training foundations include anatomy, yoga history and philosophy, NMT (Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics) and earth wisdom traditions that align with the moon cycles and seasonal rhythms of the natural world. More than 26 years of practice and study have culminated in her unique way of teaching trauma-sensitive classes that are playful and balanced, with a focus on alignment, breath and connection.
In addition to teaching public classes, Jessica serves as the Director of Programs for the nonprofit organization The Art of Yoga Project, which brings yoga and creative arts programming to marginalized and justice involved youth across the Bay Area. She trains teachers and service providers nationwide in using Trauma-Informed yoga and mindfulness to support underserved populations.
Her mission is to guide students clearly, safely and holistically through all the limbs of yoga, as practices that can allow us to engage in and live a more empowered life.
