Meet Me

I’ve lived in many places throughout the country—spanning the West Coast, Texas, California, Massachusetts and now Maine—making it difficult to claim just one as home. However, I did get my start in Oregon where I developed a love of the outdoors, competitive sports and horses.  Much of my early life revolved around swimming, with any free time spent cross country skiing on Mount Hood with my family or begging to go horseback riding at a local stable. Though my requests to ride horses were mostly denied, I found creative ways to fulfill that passion, often sneaking bareback rides on a friend’s two Shetland ponies.

Swimming was where my competitive nature truly thrived. My dedication and success in the pool led me to competitions across the country—including the Olympic and World Championship Trials—and ultimately earned me a scholarship to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. As a backstroker on SMU’s nationally ranked NCAA Division 1 team, I honed the discipline and perseverance that would shape my future.

After graduation I pursued a career in human resources at a large health care company, where I also met my husband. It was during this time that I reconnected with my childhood love of horses, taking lessons, competing in local hunter-jumper shows and purchasing my first horse. Work eventually brought us to Santa Barbara, California, where we embraced the idyllic coastal lifestyle and rolling hills of wine country. I also discovered the equestrian sport of Eventing—the triathlon of horse sports—and fell in love with its challenges. Later, we moved to Massachusetts to be closer to family and purchased a small horse farm, allowing me to pursue my equestrian dreams while competing all over the East Coast.

In 2017, an unexpected riding accident at my farm left me with a badly broken leg. Unlike the dramatic mishaps one might expect when galloping cross country and facing jumps at high-speed, my accident occurred on an otherwise ordinary day while I was schooling a horse—a routine I had performed countless times. Soon after mounting, my horse reared suddenly (perhaps spooked by something unseen or simply having a mischievous moment), reared again unbalancing me, then tucked his head between his front feet and flung his hind end up. I was unseated and thrown off, ass-over-tea kettle as they say, landing harshly on my right leg and shattering my tibial plateau.

What followed was a long road to recovery—multiple surgeries (for fractures as well as compartment syndrome), four weeks in the hospital, three months non-weight bearing, and six months of rehabilitation to regain strength, mobility, and learn to walk again.  On the bright side, I discovered Pilates as a powerful rehab tool. I’d been introduced to Pilates several years earlier and once I’d sufficiently healed I began taking private lessons at a local studio as part of my recovery. Those sessions quickly ignited a passion in me—as I experienced firsthand how Pilates transformed both my body and mindset during a time when I felt very weak and vulnerable.  This transformative experience inspired me—I become a Pilates instructor and I’ve never looked back.

I earned my mat certification in 2018, followed by an intensive 600-hour teacher training program through Power Pilates in 2019. In early 2021, I successfully earned my Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (“NCPT”) certification. My training is Classical—rooted in the original principles of the method as Joseph Pilates intended—and I strive to honor its principles while bringing my own unique teaching style to each class and client session.

I continue to expand my knowledge through educational opportunities with instructors from around the world and I’m excited to share my experience and passion for Pilates with others—especially riders. As a lifelong athlete, I have yet to experience another form of exercise that offers the comprehensive benefits of Pilates. With its emphasis on the mind–body connection, Pilates strengthens the deeper muscle layers and strikes the perfect balance between stability and mobility. Best of all, Pilates is accessible to everyone. Regardless of your fitness level, exercise background, body type, or age, anyone can practice Pilates! Since it requires nothing more than a mat and a bit of floor space, it can be seamlessly incorporated into your daily routine. For riders, adopting a regular Pilates practice is one of the best ways to enhance core strength, balance, and coordination.

Learn more about the benefits of Pilates for riders by visiting the Equestrians link on my home page.