My Journey to Streamline Yoga
For 15 years, I worked out as an aerobics instructor, convinced yoga was just some stretching for old ladies. That changed when I attended a free beginner class—expecting it to be easy, I was surprised to find it so challenging. My body was so tight from years of high-impact “no pain, no gain” classes and I really struggled with basic poses like Baddha Konāsana . I had found what I was looking for—something physical, but profoundly different.
When my yoga teacher left for the summer, she asked me to take over her classes. I had no formal yoga training, but she believed in my aerobics teaching experience and gave me her books for guidance. Looking back, it’s a blessing no one got hurt—but that was the beginning of a deeper calling.
In 1997, I met master teacher Aadil Palkhivala and opened my own studio. Aadil’s teachings touched my soul and inspired a dedicated commitment to alignment-based yoga. I studied with him intensively, eventually completing his 2,000-hour teacher training in 2006. I continued to teach both public and private classes and formally trained other teachers. Later I shared a space with a dear colleague, then eventually created a home studio just steps from my front door.
Over the years, I’ve organized and led yoga retreats in Hawaii, Italy, and India—each a beautiful blend of culture and yoga philosophy. Since 2019, I’ve also had the honor of teaching at a local addiction center, where I witness transformation in its most powerful form. This work humbles and inspires me deeply.
For years, I envisioned creating a comprehensive yoga video—something that clearly explains alignment and action, rather than simply demonstrating poses to mimic. With Jesse Tunison, an extraordinary videographer, we brought this dream to life. I scripted 48 poses, enlisted three wonderful yoga models, and we filmed with my husband, Eric, behind one of the two cameras. We selected breathtaking locations—from Pāhala Plantation to Punaluʻu Beach and Volcano Village—to showcase Hawaii’s beauty.
The editing process took more than three years, with countless hours reviewing and refining with custom graphics. Brad Waites graciously contributed anatomical illustrations. Original music was composed by Michael Surprenant, inspired by slack key melodies. The creative expression of my heart’s dream was manifest.
To share it with the world, my son, Drake, and I designed a beautiful website, bringing together every piece of this long-held vision.
And so, Streamline Yoga is born—a labor of love, merging years of practice, teaching, and devotion. May it serve as a guide, a legacy, and an invitation to deepen your own journey. From my heart to yours—Mahalo and Namaste’.