The Story Behind Golden Mat Yoga 🐾

Golden Mat Yoga was named in honor of my two mini golden retrievers, Rocky and Ruby. If you’ve ever tried to unroll a yoga mat with two curious pups around, you’ll 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, lighthearted energy reminds me not to take life (or myself) too seriously. They embody presence, play, and unconditional love — the very essence of what I hope to bring into every class and offering.

Before my first studio class, yoga had been more of a casual practice — something I dabbled in online or at the gym. But when I walked into Power Yoga Buffalo for that first Baptiste-style class, everything changed. The intensity, the flow, the breath — I knew I had found something worth exploring more deeply. I walked out of that class feeling stronger, softer, and genuinely empowered — like I had tapped into something I didn’t know I needed. I felt fully present and fully alive.

I joined HealBFLO’s 200-hour teacher training program with a clear intention: to teach and share this practice with others. I had experienced firsthand how yoga builds strength — not just in the body, but in the mind. It reminded me that anything you set your mind to is possible. I wanted to help others tap into that same sense of possibility, to feel empowered through movement and mindfulness, and to discover just how capable they truly are.

To me, yoga is a journey of self-exploration and intentional living. It's about showing up exactly as you are and choosing growth — over and over again. Golden Mat Yoga is built on that foundation: lightness and strength, stillness and movement, discipline and joy. And always, the invitation to begin again.