I love to start the day slowly – with a good cup of coffee, a tarot pull, some gratitude journaling and time to read/snuggle my dog! If the weather is nice, I’m always happy to get outside and spend time in nature – but when it’s cold or rainy, I’m also just as content to curl up on the couch and decompress with movies and video games. I am a sucker for a good RPG on my PS5. I’m also a huge craft beer fan, so squeezing in time at a brewery or a craft beer bar with some friends is always a favorite, too. Bonus points if the place is dog-friendly and my little guy can tag along! 

What brought you to RGF?

For me – and so many others, I’m sure – 2020 was a super transformative year. With all of the time at home during the pandemic, I found myself doing a lot of self-reflection and really striving to be more intentional with my life and my time. I started seeing RGF posts on Facebook – and realized that their mindset fit in perfectly with the life I was trying to create for myself. All about self-love, self-confidence and empowerment! I took a Lyra class on a whim – thinking I wouldn’t keep up with it since the studio is about 40 minutes from home. But I fell in LOVE with everything immediately, from the instructional design of the classes to the community of like-minded women to the intensity of the workouts. I can’t imagine my life without RGF now! The past year with the studio has done wonders for my physical and mental health. 

What inspires you?

I am so, so deeply inspired by people. We all have such unique stories and perspectives – and I think that’s beautiful. I could spend hours listening to people talk about the things they value, the way they see the world, the obstacles they’ve overcome, the passions that keep them going…all of it! It’s so humbling to sit and really think about how wonderfully complex we all are – coexisting, but having such distinctly different lives and experiences. Throw on a Ted Talk or a good social documentary…and you’ll have me captivated for hours! 

What is your favorite thing about pole/aerial dance?

I used to have a really toxic relationship with exercise. I would spend hours at gym trying to “punish” my body for not being “good enough,” which would throw me into cycles of guilt and shame. With aerial dance, I’ve found that my brain is finally starting to see exercise and movement as a way to celebrate and love and honor my body for all of the amazing things it can do! There are the obvious physical benefits – but finally feeling strong, confident, beautiful and empowered is the GREATEST – and that’s something I haven’t been able to find with other forms of exercise. Plus, the time we have to free dance at the end of class is probably my favorite 5 minutes of every week. There’s something so incredible about losing yourself in the music and the spin of the hoop and just letting your body flow. It’s almost meditative – like a little reset button for your brain!