Professional Background

Masters Degree in Psychology
with the Emphasis on Mind Body Health.
Certification in numerous healing modalities including:
Extensive training
in shamanic healing, process oriented psychology, dream work, healing dance, bodymind movement therapies and yoga.
Career path
has included time as elementary school teacher, mother, yoga therapist and teacher, wellness educator, director of a master’s program for yoga therapists, wellness coordinator for a large hospital system and body- mind therapist in an integrative medical center.

Health and Healing

My own health challenges have focused my attention on healing.
I was born with a very sensitive body. An immune system deficiency brought me close to death several times before I was five. In my teens and early twenties I dealt with anxiety, eating disorders, back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines and frequent respiratory infections. Fortunately, I found my way to yoga and meditation which helped enormously in lowering my symptoms and connecting me with my inner power of healing. My pregnancies, job as an elementary school teacher, motherhood, marriage and every aspect of my life were greatly enhanced by my regular practice of these stress relieving, self healing systems.
Then 18 years ago, in my early thirties, I had a serious health breakdown.
Between caring for three young daughters, attending graduate school, doing a yoga teacher apprenticeship and volunteering in the local grade school, I put my busy schedule ahead of my body’s signals.(Ironically, I was, at the time, writing a research paper on mind-body healing!) I pushed through fatigue, a variety of symptoms and several minor colds and flu until I completely collapsed.

For weeks I could barely sit up in bed long enough to read a book to my three-year-old twins. For months I was exhausted, ached all over as if I had been run over by a truck and left my bed only for short periods of time. I was diagnosed with pericarditis, arrhythmia, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. For three years I had periods of relapses, or flares, of my symptoms in which I would again feel terrible and have no energy.
Yet, today, at 51, I am healthy, strong and vibrantly happy.
I rarely have any physical symptoms and actually feel better than I did in my 20s. I love to dance, hike, travel and work on my ten acres of land. And last winter, on a trip to New Zealand, I rappelled for the first time- down a 175’ cliff beside a raging waterfall! This was quite an accomplishment for me because I have, for my whole life, been afraid of heights. Going over the edge was exhilarating and freeing!
How did I transform my health?
By changing my way of relating to my body, by practicing mind-body healing techniques and by joyfully committing to the practice of self care. I now live in respect, harmony and friendship with my body and enjoy, daily, doing the things that build, rather than destroy, my health.

After recovering from my illness I returned to graduate school and earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology with the emphasis on Mind Body Healing. I have also studied and certified in Interactive Guided Imagery, Reiki, Integrative Yoga Therapy, Chi Kung, Interior Alignment and numerous other healing modalities.
My experience of healing myself has fueled my passion to inspire other people to heal themselves.
I have taught self-healing practices to hundreds of people through hospital wellness programs, stress reduction programs, yoga and chi kung classes and group medical visits for patients in chronic pain. One of my students recently told me that the first time he tried one of the basic techniques he was shocked to discover that he was briefly pain free for the first time in 30 years! After practicing for several weeks, he found that he could significantly and consistently lower his pain level every time he practiced. These techniques can work for you as well!

Personal

Home for me is Dreaming Forest Farm in the foothills of the coast range in western Oregon. I live with my beloved partner, photographer David Paul Bayles, and have three remarkable daughters who are now embarking on their own life adventures. I love to walk in the woods, swim in rivers and lakes, dance, travel, cook, garden and create beautiful spaces. Each day I celebrate our wonderful earth and this sacred gift of life.