Five Years of Teaching Yoga: A Journey of Healing, Expansion & Coming Home

Five years ago, I stepped into my very first yoga class as a teacher — heart pounding, voice shaking, and unsure if I was ready. But I showed up. And that single choice opened a path I had once only dreamed of. This month, I celebrate five years of sharing yoga with others — and even more so, I celebrate coming home to myself.

My relationship with yoga began long before 2019. In 2009, I found myself yearning for something to fill the void that dance had left in my life. As a former dancer, I craved the embodiment, the rhythm, and the expression. I didn’t know much about yoga then — I thought it might be similar to dance — so I signed up for a class. That first experience was unlike anything I’d ever felt. I sweat more than I ever had, and yet I left feeling energized and radiant. It was like all the lights inside of me had turned on. Something I had never experienced before — and I knew, right then, I wanted to teach it one day.

But life carried on. That dream was tucked away on a shelf until, in 2019, my husband looked at me and said, “It’s your turn.” After supporting his journey and career, he nudged me gently and lovingly into mine. That’s when I said yes to yoga teacher training.

I enrolled at CorePower Yoga in Atlanta and began a life-changing journey of study and self-discovery. After graduating, it took me six months to build the courage to audition — but when I finally did, I began teaching Power Vinyasa at the same studio I trained in. Early on I learned that the key to becoming a better teacher was to keep showing up — to teach as often as I could and to remain a student always. That lesson still guides me today.

Somewhere along this path, Reiki found me. During my 300-hour yoga teacher training, I was introduced to Reiki and instantly felt a full-body yes. I didn’t overthink it. I just followed that inner pull and became a certified practitioner. Since then, Reiki has become a deeply personal practice. I use it daily — for myself, my children, even our sweet dog. I infuse it into our food, into my supplements, crystals — into anything I can as a way of adding love and healing into every moment. It’s become part of my inner language, one I now speak fluently and instinctively.

Over the years, I’ve continued to study and evolve. My 300-hour training (completed online) expanded my approach and deepened my offerings. I later trained in Original Hot Yoga (26 & 2) with Meredith Webb, and received over 200 hours of training in that lineage. I also pursued continuing education in Yin Yoga. Training with Meredith and being supported by amazing mentors like Beth, a fellow teacher and studio manager, has transformed my life — both on and off the mat. Their guidance helped me grow, grounded me in this work, and reminded me of the power of community.

If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be:

Do the thing sooner.

Don’t wait. If your gut, your heart, or your soul is whispering “yes,” listen. Say yes and trust that you’ll figure it out along the way.

My teaching style and voice have grown with me. In the beginning, my focus was just getting the words out — keep people safe and make it through class. Now, it’s about creating spaces that invite transformation — spaces that feel safe not just physically, but energetically. My aim is to support students in discovering themselves, the way I’ve discovered myself through the practice.

This 5-year milestone feels like the beginning, not the end. I have grown so much, and yet I feel more inspired and aligned than ever. This moment is a return — to myself, to my body, and to the sacred work I’m here to do. It’s a celebration, yes, but also an activation of what’s next.

I’ve always ended my Yin and Vinyasa classes by cueing students into a fetal position — a posture of pause and protection — and reminding them: your body is your home. The only true home you’ll ever have. I’ve taken that to heart in a deep way. Learning to come home to my own body has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey. And now, I am creating something that offers that same experience to others.

My first course, Coming Home, is in the works — and I cannot wait to share it with you. It is a reflection of everything I’ve learned and lived through these past five years. It’s still unfolding, but the intention is clear: to support you in your own sacred return.

Thank you for walking this path with me. Whether you’ve taken a class, received Reiki, or are just joining me now — I’m so grateful you’re here.

May we all nourish, trust, create, and move in sacred rhythm with our souls.

With love,

Steph