Life can so easily feel tumultuous and overwhelming, like someone else is steering the ship. With so many options and opinions, so much information and stimulation, our cluttered minds often feel breathless and frenzied. Battered about and befuddled by the world, I found yoga, and ever since it has been my anchor, my open space of possibility. My yoga mat can be anything I need it to be: My gym, spiritual sanctuary, therapist, medicine, mentor, mini-vacation, a mountain to climb, a river to ride, solace, or adventure. Yoga has transformed my relationship to my mind and body and challenges me to be patient and engaged in my life as it evolves. It’s helped me heal from illness, calm anxiety, and redirect my life to a more authentic path.

Ultimately, my yoga is about creating more joy in my life and in the world; sometimes that starts with a deep backbend, kicking up to a handstand against the wall, sinking into a juicy split, and sweating it out on my mat. The rest just comes. As I align my body, I'm subtly realigning my mind. In teaching yoga it is my goal to guide others in renewal and growth, allowing them the opportunity to create courageous vision on their mats and in their lives. I teach power vinyasa flow and completed FSYC's 200-hour teacher training with my amazing teacher, Lori Burgwyn. I've also been inspired by teachers Ti Harmony, Kathryn Budig, David Swenson, and Cherry Foreman.

I enjoy packing my life to the brim with friends, family, music, art, and poetry. In addition to yoga, I work with incredible people in the UNC Philosophy Department and Parr Center for Ethics, I volunteer with the Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County, and I will be working on my master's in social work for the next several years.

Daily inspirations include all of my amazing life teachers, my three kitties, warm breezes, broken branches, human resilience, underdogs, downdogs, upswings, singing, sisters, dreamers, dusk, dancing, breath, bright lit eyes, brainstorming, leaping forward, getting up, dusting off, and trying again.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack, in everything
That's how the light gets in.
—Leonard Cohen

CLASS: Power Flow Yoga, Saturdays, 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.

See Jennie teaching: