ABOUT

I came to yoga from a dance background. Vinyasa yoga has all the components I love about dance, including the space for developing self-expression.

My roots in yoga were established in 1999 at the Jivamukti Studio in New York City, where I practiced with David Life and Uma Saraswati. I loved the chanting in Jivamukti yoga and how I felt bringing my voice into the room. The first training I took back in 2003 was life-changing. I had just graduated from Film School and had decided that was not the industry for me. I was lost and not sure what I was going to do with my life. A dear friend and fellow yoga enthusiast had decided to take a training and invited me to join. I thought “why not?”

I was blown away at how rich the history, practice and application of the teachings were. I also realized I loved teaching! 

Since then I have taken between 1-3 trainings a year and still do so. I love being a student. There’s so much to learn and it’s such a privilege to step out of the day-to-day and immerse myself in the practice and student community. When I lead training, I encourage my students to do the same.

HISTORY

Having developed a regular practice in my early twenties, I got certified at Sonic Yoga NY in 2003 and began teaching full time shortly after. In 2006, I left NYC and landed in Vancouver, BC, at the beginning of its yoga scene. I brought a different flavor of vinyasa to the Vancouver yoga scene and am known as the teacher’s teacher in my home community. I completed my 300-hour YTT with the Samudra School led by Shiva Rea in 2012.

I’ve led retreats, workshops, and yoga teacher training worldwide since 2010. I’ve had the honor to teach at the Chamonix Yoga Festival, Wanderlust Whistler, Northwest Yoga Conference, Whistler Yoga Conference and the Pacific Yoga Festival. I was on faculty at Sonic Yoga for their 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training in 2006 and a part of the 300-hour faculty at Semperviva Yoga since 2008.

In 2013, I created my own yoga school, the Lila School of Vinyasa Yoga, and have been leading my own 200 and 300-hour programs internationally with the help of Carolyn Anne Budgell, Shiv Oss, Paul Ochoa, and Erin Moon.

Before the launch of Practice with Clara, I taught for MyYogaOnline (now Gaia) since its inception in 2008. I’m still one of the most sought-after teachers on the site. 

COMMUNITY

My Dharma is to bring people together.

In the community, I hope to create a conversation and share an intention with fellow practitioners. Our intentions might be very similar, but how we go about it may differ; this is how we might learn from each other.

The greatest gift I’ve received being in the community is how much deeper I’ve gotten to know myself. By simply showing up and being together, whether it’s a yoga class or dinner with friends, I feel like I get to know myself so much more by being around other people.

Teachers & Inspiration

In 2003, I found one of my most influential teachers Shiva Rea, thanks to my mentor Lauren Hanna. I’ve been part of the Prana Flow family ever since. I found that Shiva’s philosophy of honoring the fluidity within by moving like water felt so natural to me—it spoke to me in a way that felt real and authentic and true for me to teach and pass on to students. Her devotion to the roots of this ancient tradition inspires me and reminds me each day that every breath is sacred.

Another mentor on my path is Stacey Brass, the owner of Yoga Maya in NYC. Stacey has always had a strong influence on my teaching for her intelligent sequencing, direct language, and the ability to be so genuinely herself on and off the yoga mat. Stacey showed me what it was to be more honest and authentic and acts as a reminder for me to keep it real, no matter what I’m doing. 

I humbly bow to all the other teachers I’ve met along the way, including my first Kundalini yoga teacher at Hunter College, Mary Flinn. I bow to Uma Saraswati for making my heart sing and Dana Flynn for breaking all the rules and inspiring me to do the same. I bow to Louis Etting for demonstrating the power of simplicity and to Rod Stryker for illuminating the sutras and sharing his passion for Tantra. I bow to Ana Forrest for her fierce compassion. I bow to Daniel Odier for sharing his embodied teachings and to Paul Ortega for reminding me that we are all cosmic dancers.