Hi! I’m Lizzy.

I’ve walked a path that has required both courage and steady commitment—qualities I try to bring to my teaching and my journey with health. My history as an athlete first led me to yoga over 15 years ago, but it was my struggle with anxiety, depression and feeling stuck that drew me more deeply into the practice.

Through yoga, I discovered not just pain-free movement, but a tonic — a way to regulate my nervous system, come back to my body, and find clarity. That journey transformed (and is transforming) my life, it’s the reason I’m so passionate about helping others find peace, strength, and balance—especially those navigating overwhelm or disconnection. I want to live with integrity and compassion, practicing mindful movement helps me do that.

I’m recognized by Yoga Alliance as an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at both the 200 and 500-hour levels, and in 2018, I added a Pilates certification to further support integrated, mindful movement. Based in Santa Cruz, CA, I teach throughout Northern California and B.C.S. Mexico, holding space for others to reconnect with themselves, one breath at a time.

 

Inspiration

Lizzy’s approach to teaching is rooted in the Krishnamacharya lineage, where breath and personalized practice come first—but her path has always been far from linear. Shaped as much by ancient traditions as by the winding roads of travel, (she’s been to 32 countries) the wildness of nature, ( she’s completed a 168 mile hike), and the grounded presence of her animals (7 chickens, a tortoise and a puppy), Lizzy sees movement not as a performance, but as medicine.

Her studies span Yoga, Meditation, Classical Pilates, Tantra, and Ayurveda, all of which inform her teaching with depth and versatility. She believes every body carries its own story—and that there’s a practice to meet each chapter with clarity and compassion. Deeply influenced by her mentors Alice Joanou and Marimar Higgins, Lizzy also draws constant inspiration from life itself: the rhythm of the seasons, the intimacy of close relationships, the raw beauty of unfamiliar landscapes, and the quiet wisdom of everyday moments found off the mat.

For Lizzy, practice is never static. It’s a living, breathing creature — one that evolves and urges it’s practitioners to grow and explore.

Click here to learn about Krishnamacharya

Background & teaching influence and Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree - Interdisciplinary Studies, Holistic Health, University of Arizona

  • Yoga Alliance - Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level (E-RYT200) and 500 hour level (RYT500)

  • 200 hour certification, YogaWorks, Costa Mesa CA - Kori Flechtner Strobl

  • 500 hour certification, Piedmont Yoga, Oakland CA - Zubin Shroff, Mary Paffard, Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen

  • 50 hour Tantra Immersion Namaste Oakland CA - Pedro Franco

  • 100 hour Yoga Through the Lens of Ayurveda, Oakland CA - Kameko Shibata

  • 5 years of weekly intensive Sadhana Oakland CA - Alice Joanou, no hourly record

  • Certified Basi Pilates Mat Instructor, Aptos CA - Dominique Lesperance

  • 85 hour Prenatal/Postnatal Training, Virtual Training - Lily Dwyer Begg

“May we be protected both together. May we be nourished both together. May we grow in spiritual knowledge and energy both together. May our study together be luminous. May we not hate or have discord between us. Om, peace, peace, peace.”
— Krishna Yajurveda Taittiriya Upanishad (rough translation)