I stared at the flyer for the yoga teacher training knowing it was my ticket, my ticket out of pain and despondency.

Fast forward through the yoga teacher training program. Not only was I teaching yoga out of my living room the day after I graduated, I had regained my mobility and happy state of mind! I could turn my head without pain moving down my arms. I said good bye to the pain from my back radiating down my legs too.

Back in the mid-1980’s I pioneered opening one of the first mom-and-pop  yoga studios in San Francisco when even there I had to explain what yoga was and how it can help you to live in the present moment, live longer, and live a happier life.

Getting a little help for my back and joint pain, I also began seeing a chiropractic couple. Knowing I was certified from the Ananda Yoga Teacher Training program, and my back ground in applying yoga therapeutically, I was hired to be their assistant and taught posture and therapeutic exercises as well as administering traction and electrical muscle stimulation. I have some fun stories to tell from that experience!

Not long after that I attended a sports medicine clinic at my old school, UCSC where I had graduated with a B.A. degree in Theater Arts with a Dance emphasis. This was one of the few college level dance programs that taught kinesiology (the bio-mechanics and movements of the body), and I learned anatomy and physiology and so much more. Here I met my soon to be mentor Dr. James Garrick, the father of Sports Medicine.

Being a devoted mother, volunteering in our community, and running a business, I may have looked like superwoman (or wished I did), but it took it’s toll.

I just want to pause here and be real with you. Burning the candle at both ends is not healthy. I managed to find ways with yoga and other health hacks, to get a lot done and be there for my kids. I wish I knew all of the things that I know now about how to take care of myself, how to be more productive — all in ways that work for me, work for the person who I am, not someone else.

My experience running down someone’s else’s path, one that wasn’t meant for the way I need to do my business to be successful on my terms, the way my body, mind and spirit need to be nurtured, are different. There is a lot that we can learn from others, but in the end we need to individualize what works for us. This is why I always individualize for people!

If I had known what I know now, I might have been able to avoid a major surgery and so much more. I am on a mission to help others find their best way to do the things that make them feel whole, loved, nurtured, healthy and successful on their own terms.

Back now to drugs and alcohol… 

When my kids were in middle school, I was asked to develop a mini-program for tweens and teens for a new drug and alcohol prevention program to help kids deal with the ominous amounts of stress they face.

I knew that the only way the yoga practices I was developing for these kids would be truly effective was if they actually practiced them! I also knew if I made a handout with the practices on it, the piece of paper would end up like so many others I saw in my kids back back; at the bottom of the pack along with who knows what other pieces of food and debris.

One day, I was sitting on the couch with my middle school aged son. Youtube was a new thing at the time (yeah, I am no spring chicken!), and I knew that kids liked to watch the videos. I asked my son if he thought kids would watch a YouTube video, on yoga. He said yes, if it was short enough. So I asked is 15 minutes short enough? No. 10 minutes? No. When I got down to 2 minutes, he said Yes, they would watch a 2 minute video.

That was the birth of 2 Minute Yoga.

By now I had written many training manuals for yoga teachers and therapeutic applications of yoga, including one for a Prenatal  Yoga Teacher Training program that I developed. I also had some newspaper and magazine articles published. But I still hadn’t written a book - another life long goal. In 2012, I wrote the bestselling book, The 2 Minute Yoga Solution, FAST and EASY Stress and Back Pain Relief for ANYONE at ANYTIME [link]. Another first as at that time, as no one was offering yoga practices that were less than 30 minutes. I was putting myself out on a limb in the yoga field to claim that you can get results from a short practice.

My book opened lots of doors! I had adventures that I could not have imagined.

I was now asked to be a guest on online radio programs (this was before podcasts) e-magazines, blogs and TV. When Ricki Lake relaunched her popular TV show, I became her online, Health and Wellness contributor and was invited to be in the audience for several special shows. You can read more about my experiences with Rikki Lake and where that led me.

I became an Ambassador for Mindvalley’s new Zenward Yoga program  and my 2 Minute Yoga Challenge was the most popular one by far within the program — because when you use my methods, you can benefit greatly from a short practice. I also became a paid blogger for Mindvalley - almost all of the yoga blogs on their site remain ones that I wrote.

I went on to co-author several other best selling books. As my reputation grew, I was asked to be on the Yoga Alliance Committee to set the standards for Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training. As one of the pioneers/front runners/innovators of Yoga Therapy, I was placed on the International Association of Yoga Therapists committee to implement the newly formed educational standards for Yoga Therapist training and the accreditation of Yoga Therapy schools.

One day I ran down the stairs. I stopped. I couldn’t believe it. I had NO PAIN! Zero.

Like everything I do, I study it, research it, and try it out and then I share it, teach and even start a business if it will help more people, so others can have the sometimes miraculous feeling moments like I have had. I can’t keep a wellness and happy secret to myself! I have to share!  I found the combination of the essential oils and supplements particularly powerful.

I ditched and switched my skin care, my body and hair care, my cleaning products, you name it — all of the things that have hormone disrupters and cancer causing chemicals were thrown out.

When I was trying to be Supermom, I caught a bad case of bronchitis and not long after that, viral pneumonia (the kind antibiotics can’t help). After that I found that whenever I got sick with the flu or cold, I would have asthma symptoms, to the point that I needed medications.

Now when I found myself sick, I used the essential oils, to reduce the severity and length of my illnesses. Better yet, over time, I found myself not getting sick in the first place! Another blessing in my life — quality essential oils.

In this journey I stumbled upon the science of longevity.

Now that I have overcome so many hurdles, I am not stopping. I am working on aging backwards, so I can live the most vibrant, adventuresome, fun, mentally stimulating and emotionally satisfying life I can live.

I am living the good life. I am married to a wonderful man, surpassing three decades and counting. I have two marvelous young adult children. We can live a life that most people only dream of if neither of us worked another day in our lives.

Yet, I am here. I am working. I am working for you, because I believe in you.