My Journey

My path began in 1998 when I discovered mindfulness practice—a revelation that changed my life and shaped my career. After returning to my hometown of Columbia, Missouri from California, I earned my doctorate in psychology and became a health psychologist. In 2002, I founded the Mindfulness Practice Center at the University of Missouri, bringing mindfulness-based practices to faculty, staff, and students.

Over the years, I’ve taught and researched mindfulness interventions for stress, pain, and eating. I developed the Eat for Life program (2007), wrote two books—The Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution (2016) and Savor Every Bite (2021)—and served as President of The Center for Mindful Eating from 2018-2022. While I’m grateful for this meaningful work, my heart now calls me to focus fully on yoga and energy medicine.

My most recent adventure has been completing my certification as an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner. I now offer personalized sessions that address overall energetic wellbeing—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

Life Beyond the Mat

Joy is central to my spiritual practice—you might catch me breaking into spontaneous dance and laughter at any moment! I practice what I teach by doing yoga daily (even in the grocery store), taking long walks and biking the Katy Trail, playing piano, exploring diverse cuisines, watching documentaries, gardening, spending time with loved ones, and playing with Chi Chi, my tortoiseshell cat.

I warmly invite you to join me on this enlightening journey of yoga and energy medicine.