A first-generation immigrant, woman of color in science, and lifelong yoga practitioner, I am well-accustomed to the journey. I was introduced to yoga as a preteen shortly after emigrating to the US, and it eased this profound transition greatly. I took my first hot yoga class two weeks after a major invasive surgery, and I knew I would be dedicated to this practice for the rest of my life. My first entheogenic experience at 17 showed me that these states can be attained through pranayama and meditation, which intensified my practice and literally changed my mind.

A meditation practice of Neti Neti (Sanskrit: नेति नेति) “not this, not that” took me along the road less traveled, where I surrendered my seat at medical school and devoted myself completely to yoga for the next several years. I studied under Swami Atma in Rishi Kesh, India, first training in Ashtanga Yoga at the behest of my fellow classmates. I’ve received subsequent training in Meridian Yoga, Gokul Yoga, Dharma Yoga and Bishnu Gosh lineage (formerly Bikram). I have led classes and workshops in Washington DC and abroad for over a decade, in which I integrate somatic bodywork and sonic therapy for a full spectrum practice. In 2020, I received Usui-Ryoho Reiki transmission from John Latz.

I was disillusioned by allopathic medicine due to misdiagnosis of a rare medical condition for over a year, and instead chose to conduct graduate studies in biotechnology and biochemistry at Georgetown University. I’ve since collaborated with national laboratories and private clinics alike at the frontiers of experimental medicine. I’ve performed seminal research in drug repurposing to treat neurodegenerative diseases, standardized microarrays for neural implantation to treat PTSD, and helped develop transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols to treat sensory disorders. In recent years, I have published research on the little known etiology of hyposmia, which has plagued so many post-pandemic.

My lifelong aim is to reconcile science and spirituality, and I believe entheogens are one potential bridge to this gap, the philosophy of yoga being another. I have lived and directly witnessed that with intention and mindfulness, every act and experience can be a medicinal one. It is only through the power of yoga that I was able to undo the doom>diagnosis narrative fed to me by doctors, who said I would never be able to naturally give birth, would always need to be on medication- yet here I am, with the healthiest naturally born daughter and only breath as my medicine.

Whether with patients at the clinic or students at the studio, I prioritize holding sacred space in an increasingly secular culture so we may become whole, together.

(Photo credit: David Lebow)

Accolades etc.

bACHELOR’S OF SCIENCE 2011

UCONN Physiology & Neurobiology

bACHELOR’S OF arts 2011

UCONN French for the Global Community

Melt method 2013

Hartford, CT Hartford Sweat

Ashtanga Yoga 200 YTT 2015

Rishi Kesh, IN Ajarya Yoga Academy

ASHTANGA YOGA 50 ytt 2015

Hartford, CT Kino MacGregor

Georgetown University M.Sc. 2016

Washington, DC Biochemistry & Biotechnology

Bishnu Ghosh Yoga 200YTT 2017

Washington, DC HotSpot Dupont

ashtanga yoga 20YTT 2018

Washington, DC Kino MacGregor

YIN & Restorative Yoga 50YTT 2019

Washington, DC Black Lotus

USUI-RYOHO REIKI lEVEL 1-11 2020

Washington, DC John Latz

Gokul Yoga ADVANCED 50YTT 2020

Virtual Gokul Acandra

dharma yoga 200 YTT 2021

Virtual Dharma Yoga Center

Meridian Yoga Therapy Level 1 2022

Virtual Science of Self Yoga

prenatal & PostPartum yOGA 2023

Virtual Shara Turner