Thanksgiving is coming up and I am truly grateful for this community we have built together. I try to say this often so I hope you already know it but I receive so much from teaching and from my relationship with each one of you. It would not be the same without you!

Some of us met six years ago at the Uptown YWCA and you were my first students. There is a lot of grief in the closing of the YWCA. It is a tremendous loss for the entire community and I am sorry for your loss. We’ve discussed “weak tie” casual friendships - the people at the front desk, the swimmer in the lane next to you for a decade, the other students in your yoga class. These people have a positive impact on our well-being by helping us feel more connected. If you have a friend from the YWCA who is looking for a great yoga community, please invite them to class with you or guide them to my website. Everyone is welcome to check out their first class for free!

Big changes are happening in my professional life and I’ve told a few of you but I wanted to share with everyone.

A while ago, I wondered if I could stop being a corporate cliche - unsatisfied and looking for a way out - after my kids graduated from college. I had found my way back to the IT field a decade ago (I started my career after college as a software developer) after I admitted to a friend that my beloved radio and journalism nonprofit work was not bringing in enough income to support our three young boys. My friend hired me as a business analyst, but neglecting to take an active role in where I worked or the culture of the companies I worked for, my jobs never felt like the right fit for who I was. At my lowest point, I became intentionally clear about why I stayed in those jobs: to support our family and enable the boys to play soccer, take a few family vacations, and save money for college. And for my own sanity, I dove deep into my yoga practice, eventually becoming a teacher.

Last year, with the help of my friend, Caroline Cochran, who has a coaching business, I began exploring what I would like to do next in my life and came up with some fun, exciting, and ridiculous ideas! But when I separated from my job last December, my future came a lot sooner than I expected. This time, though, I tried to be more patient and take a little more time choosing something that excited me. Two ideas floated to the top: how to support people at the end of their lives and how to support people, financially, in order to live well.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that my work as a yoga instructor - guiding people to get still, cease the chatter in their brains, listen to what is uniquely important to them and prioritize what matters most - has led me to this point. Building this little yoga business and offering something that people want and need in their lives has given me the courage to take this next step in my life.

I am excited to start my journey as a financial advisor at Edward Jones next Monday, November 20. It is a career path that was always floating around in my mind, but for a number of reasons, I didn't think it was for me. I have spent my adult life exploring how to create a good life, to cease the struggle and the suffering that results from struggling - mentally, spiritually, physically and financially. If you have heard me drone on about budgeting, you know! I think finances are a barrier for many people and I hope to help people uncover their priorities and create a plan aligned with their values in order to follow their dreams and live their best lives.

I will be studying for a series of exams over the next three months and complete an intensive training. Assuming all goes well, I will begin taking on clients at the end of March. I will continue to teach my Sunday and Wednesday yoga classes as I always have. I don’t expect anything to change at this point because I love sharing this practice with all of you. I keep the calendar on my website up to date if you want to check it out.
WOMEN'S WINTER RETREAT

Look for an announcement next week about a weekend retreat for rest & connection in February that I will be co-leading with Caroline Cochran. If you have questions or simply want to have coffee, please reach out to me anytime. My phone number and email can be found on my yoga website.