The Story Behind Golden Mat Yoga 🐾

Yoga was something I practiced casually until my first Baptiste-style class at Power Yoga Buffalo. The energy and breath of that class sparked something powerful in me. I left feeling grounded, alive, and connected in a way I had never felt before. That moment inspired me to complete HealBFLO’s 200-hour teacher training so I could begin to share this experience with others. Yoga taught me how strong and capable we truly are when we move with intention.

Golden Mat Yoga was founded in honor of my two mini golden retrievers, Rocky and Ruby. If you have ever tried to unroll a yoga mat with two curious pups around, you understand. They are always right there, playing beside me, climbing on top of me in downward dog, or curling up with me in savasana. Their joyful and lighthearted energy reminds me not to take life or myself too seriously. They embody presence, play, and unconditional love, which is the very essence of what I hope to bring into every class and offering.

To me, yoga is a journey of self exploration and intentional living. It has taught me to show up exactly as I am and to choose growth, with compassion, again and again. It continues to remind me that strength and softness can coexist, that presence is a practice, and that there is always space to begin again.