The Pharm asked us instructors a list of "Bio Questions" for their webpage. I'm sharing my answers here, to better introduce myself to those of you who I'm just getting to know. (My favorite blurb is the final one on "community," if you want to cut straight to the poetry.) ❤
- What forms of movement do you love and how/when did you find it?
Growing up in a meditating multi-cultural household in a mountain community and camping in the desert every weekend, I was exposed to expansive esoteric ideas at a young age. I've loved wilderness, creativity, and spirituality for as long as I can remember. Between patients and students, I'm hiking, backpacking, surfing, climbing, and botanizing around Ventura, and beyond. Dance, yoga, improvisational movement, and wilderness are core daily practices that ground and inspire me.
- What are you passionate about?
Having fun while making the world a better place. Reconnecting people with their wild creative spirits. Co-creating internal and external resilient, compassionate, and connected communities. Optimizing thriving physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Experiencing regenerative deep, calm, and brilliant joy. Creating beauty.
- How do you plug into self?
Every morning, regardless of whether I wake in the wilderness, a foreign country, or my comfy bed, I begin my day pre-dawn with tea, journaling, and asana. Consistent daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly rituals bring orderly magic into my life. This includes sit spot (nature connection), making music, I-Jing (reading classical Chinese philosophy), outdoor adventures aplenty, moon celebrations, gardening and more. Life is art.
- What does community mean to you?
We are raindrops rippling over an infinite Ocean. I am an individual raindrop, though I am also the whole Ocean. My circles of influence ripple out near and far, intersecting with myriad other raindrops and ripples, eventually touching the whole thing. We ARE the Ocean. We co-create with, while being held and created BY the Ocean. Our every action holds great power.
