My journey really began in earnest with deep dissatisfaction with the direction my life was heading.
Growing up I was always fascinated by the way the human body works and moves through the world. I followed that interest into college, regularly exploring and adventuring through the Colorado outdoors, and training in and teaching martial arts for nearly 12 years. This opportunity to teach others the skills I’d internalized for myself was an honor; teaching students that were often twice my age gave me an early avenue to take others on a transformational journey. As I had done for myself through the physical and mental discipline of the practice, I helped others deeply connect with and embody a felt-sense of their internal power. I felt as if I were charged with the creation of samurai – honorable, purposeful warriors doing good in the world.
Then somewhere along the way, I decided that I needed to have a “real job.” Almost on a whim, I decided I would be an investment banker; that seemed to be my path to success. What I didn’t know at 22, as I thought I was turning toward my true self, was that I was taking a tremendous turn away from my authentic path.
Fast forward 5 years to San Francisco during the dot-com era, and I’m working 90+ hours a week at a global investment bank. Great on paper, great when comparing career notes with ex-classmates and chatting with family members and friends who want you to succeed….miserable in reality. After slogging through “just one more year” to get that big bonus check, the Universe handed me a tremendous gift: I failed to get a huge promotion that I’d convinced myself that I wanted. This failure forced the space into my life I needed to understand just how unhappy I was with this career path and how out of sync I was with what I wanted out of life.
I had been on a steady path with a solid vision constructed around it, and suddenly that had been wiped out. There was no map ahead of me; I had lost my bearings.
Without consciously deciding to, I allowed myself to sit in the shock, anger, and sense of betrayal and just soak it all in rather than jumping forward into a similar job that would prolong the vision that was clearly no longer working.
Gradually I realized that while I had physical health and financial success, I was lacking emotional and spiritual alignment. I’d spent my life oriented toward external goals, so I didn’t have an integrated sense of Self – an interconnected wisdom based on the information my body, mind, and spirit were giving me – to rest into when the clear path ahead suddenly disappeared.
What I didn’t know at the time was that this spiritual kick-in-the-ass marked the beginning of a lifelong process of self-discovery and transformation. Moving forward required that I learn how to transform myself in a way that wasn’t just based on physical or mental discipline. These were old tools that I could still call on, but at this stage in my life they were only keeping me headed down the same tired road. They were failing me and I had to learn it the hard way.
For something new to happen I had to learn how to turn my attention inward to discover what I really wanted so I could be on a satisfying path. And, I had to learn the critical skill of recognizing those unseen places where I kept myself from progressing forward.
As my personal transformation unfolded over the years, my professional practice came into form as well, first around Rolfing, then later integrating Hakomi, Mindful Movement and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT). Through my journey I’ve changed my body, my mind, and my relationships, and have connected to my deep sense of purpose in life. And once again, I feel like I’m helping to create samurai doing good in the world.
My practice is the result of more than 20 years of growth and personal transformation, of diving deep into myself to remove the barriers I’ve had to my natural evolution. I know first-hand how transformational this work can be, and I look forward to traveling alongside you as you chart your own journey to a more-evolved you.
My Background
Education
Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center (2023)
Hakomi Institute Southwest, Austin, TX (2016)
Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, Boulder, CO (2008)
Lauterstein-Conway Massage School, Austin, TX (2006)
National Outdoor Leadership School, Lander, WY (2001)
University of Colorado at Boulder, BS Business Administration (1996)
Professional Affiliations
Member, Hakomi Institute (2018-Present)
Member, Dr. Ida Rolf Institute (2008-Present)
Member, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) (2007-Present)
Former Chairperson, Red River region of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute (2010-2012)
Continuing Education
Hakomi Somatic Coaching Certification (2024)
Hakomi & Somatic Trauma Healing (2024)
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) Advanced Application (2024)
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) Certification (2023)
Matrix Diversity Training (2021)
Matrix Leadership Essentials (2020)
Rolf Movement Integrative Strategies (2018)
Hakomi Advanced Training & Certification (2017-2018)
Right Use of Power (2017)
Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychology Comprehensive Training (2014-2016)
Coordinative Indicators of Integration (2015)
MovNat Natural Movement (2015)
Structural Integration for the Cranium (2013)
Rolfing & Trauma 2 (2013)
Fascial Release for the Abdomen and Breath (2012)
Cadaver Workshop (2012)
Inherent Motion (2012)
Rolfing & Trauma (2011)
Neural Mobilization for Shoulder & Pelvic Girdles (2010)
Advanced Myofascial Techniques for the Leg, Knee, & Foot (2009)
Hakomi Sensitivity Cycle (2008)
Low Back Pain/Sciatica (2007)
Tao Shiatsu (2007)