Personal Philosophy

I believe that health requires a deep awareness and cultivation of the mind-body-spirit connection.

I spent over a decade as a dedicated runner and weight lifter, striving for the American dream of fitness. That quest led to knee and shoulder pain and I realized that if I continued on that path, that I would not be able to continue to exercise as I aged. I rebounded to yoga, where I enjoyed the meditative aspects but ultimately I wanted more movement.

The first time I saw Pilates I realized that it held all the qualities I was looking for. I started taking lessons, and signed up for a training program almost immediately. My experience with Pilates, both for myself and teaching others, has been transformative.

Reiki entered my life after my awareness of energy in the body became heightened. Deciding that there might be others who had a similar awareness, I investigated until I found Reiki and recognized that it provided a framework of working with this energy. Eventually I decided to apply for the Master's program at the Reiki Training Center both for my own spiritual path as well as to better assist my clients. My experience with Reiki has dramatically shifted my body, my mind, and my spirit.

Both Pilates and Reiki are tools. They can certainly work independently, but they also complement each other wonderfully. I believe in allowing my clients to choose their own path -- they may come to me first for Pilates and then chose to explore Reiki at some point, or vice versa. Or they may choose to use only one system. I believe in respecting each person's inner wisdom for what is right for them.

My passion is assisting other people improve their life experience, and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do the work that I do.

Academic Background

1998: Ph.D., Environmental Health (Industrial Hygiene & Safety), University of Washington.
        Dissertation: Theory and Evaluation of a Physiologic Sampling Pump
1991: B.S., Environmental Health, University of Washington.

Employment History

2005-present: Reiki Practitioner, Core Kinetics Northwest, Redmond, WA.
2002-present: Pilates Instructor, Core Kinetics Northwest, Redmond, WA.
2002-2004: Pilates Instructor, Balance Within Movement Studio, Redmond, WA.
1991-1993: Research Scientist, USDA Forest Service, Seattle, WA.
1990-1991: Veterinary Technician, Primate Center, University of Washinton, Seattle, WA.
1989-1990: Veterinary Technician, Emergency Seattle Vet Hospital, Seattle, WA.

Pilates Training, Certification & Continuing Educ.

September 2006: Commenced the Seattle Eastside Professional Feldenkrais Training Program in Kirkland, WA.
August 2006: Attended the Pilates on Tour Conference in Bellevue, WA, and completed the following courses:
        Intake and Assessment for Pilates Teachers by Madeline Black
        Cadillac Repertoire Review by Madeline Black
        From the Soul of the Foot to the Core of the Body by Marie-Jose Blom-Lawrence
November 2005: Became a P.M.A. Gold Certified Pilates Instructor after successfully passing the new P.M.A. Pilates Certification Exam.
November 2005: Attended P.M.A. Conference in Palm Springs, CA.
August 2005: Attended two Michele Larsson Workshops in Seattle, WA:
        In Depth: The Eve Gentry Approach to Pilates on Apparatus & Mat.
        Pilates & Scoliosis.
2003: Became a Certified Pilates Instructor by completing a 600-hr Pilates Training Program at Balance Within Movement Studio in Redmond, WA.

Reiki Training, Certification & Continuing Educ.

2005: Became a Certified Reiki Master after completing a one year training program at The Reiki Training Center in Seattle, WA.