Resumé

Master of Science, TESL | 1994 – 1996
University of Southern California
Thesis: “The Effect of Yoga on the Language Acquisition Capabilities of High School Inner City ESL Students”.

Post-Graduate Diploma, Library/Information Studies  | 1986
University of North London
Emphasis: Applications of information and communication technologies.

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology  | 1979 – 1983
University of California, Los Angeles
Emphasis: Design of experimental research and holistic health.

Yoga Teacher for Athletes |  2016 – Present
Loyola Marymount University
Teach two yoga classes a week designed to provide physical conditioning to the Men’s Basketball team. Use specific yoga poses to improve the flexibility and mobility of muscles and joints which are impacted by playing basketball. Encourage sportsmanship and team camaraderie. Reinforce players positive attitudes and respect for each other.

Yoga Teacher  |  2008 – Present
Yoga Works
Teach ten yoga classes a week. Conduct orientation courses designed for people new to yoga. Offer numerous workshops a year at various locations locally and nationally. Mentor future yoga teachers.

Creator/Consultant  |  2007 – Present
Conscious Grieving®
Conceptualized and developed Conscious Grieving®  to be of service, in a variety of ways, to people of all ages in grief and for those supporting people in grief. Conduct individual consultations, group sessions and workshops at a variety of yoga studios. Create educational materials for both teachers and students. Provide confidential compassionate grieving support, letting go rituals, opportunities for creative expression and appropriate coping skills. Teach grief specific yoga sequences. Support people experiencing grief and loss while honoring their loved one. Previous Conscious Grieving® consultations: Gifts of Grief workshops at Esalen; Comfort Zone Camp, a bereavement camp for youth; research on Grief, Youth and Prevention for My Prevention and led a national webinar: Grief and Loss: A Sensitive Approach to Youth Prevention.

Yoga Teacher  |  2006 – Present
Iyengar Institute of Los Angeles
Teach four yoga classes a week, including a youth yoga class. Conduct orientation courses for people new to yoga. Served as Curriculum Coordinator for one year scheduling workshops, developing the class schedule and interfacing with teaching staff. Completed Stephanie Quirk’s Asana and Therapeutic Iyengar Yoga Teacher’s Intensive three year course. Mentor future yoga teachers.

AP Psychology, Health, Yoga and English Teacher/Department Chair  |  1994 – 2008
Belmont High School, Los Angeles School District
Taught AP psychology, health, yoga and English to classes of 45 students in several different small learning communities. Developed and implemented a holistic health approach which emphasized preventing illness through physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental health practices. Proposed and implemented the first yoga program for credit in LAUSD.  Established and actualized a communicative and thematic based curriculum for ESL and English classes which emphasized free reading and writing. Demonstrated yoga as a form of total physical response (TPR). Discussed health and environmental issues. Provided bilingual and bicultural counseling to Thai and Spanish speaking students. Trained teaching assistants. Served as department chairs for psychology, health and yoga. Utilized a variety of teaching approaches and materials while adhering to State and District Standards. Modified curriculum to answer the needs of students at different levels of proficiency. Collaborated with other teachers to design and actualize numerous service learning projects. Created community partnerships with Yoga Works and the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Los Angeles. Activated parent involvement.Coordinated TUPE and Title IV budget and activities. Managed a $90,000 budget. Facilitated IMPACT groups. Worked with The Healthy School Food Coalition to bring healthy food into schools. Participated in decision-making and developed activities for the HIV/AIDS Prevention Unit and District 4’s Arts Focus Group. Coordinated a recycling program.

English Teacher   |  1994
College of English Language, Los Angeles, CA
Taught advanced levels of ESL to adult immigrants from various countries. Implemented cross-cultural and life skills programs. Developed numerous field trips. Attended workshops, seminars and the CATESOL conference. Devised and used a variety of teaching materials including multimedia and other real life mediums.

English Teacher/Advisor  |  1989 – 1991
United States Peace Corps, Nakorn Si Thammarat, Thailand
Completed a three-month intensive training program in TEFL, cross-cultural skills, and Thai. Taught EFL to all levels of high school students. Advised and taught EFL to elementary and high school teachers. Created an extensive array of teaching materials.  Developed curriculum to stimulate thinking about health, environmental, and global concerns.  Planted fruit and nitrogen fixing trees.  Organized ESL weekend nature camps and pen pals in the United States.

Research Assistant/Lecturer  |  1987
University of North London, London, England
Analyzed the structure of the provision of information for a British Library funded project. Implemented research in universities, media, industry and business. Conducted and designed interviews and questionnaires. Performed online and manual literature searches. Prepared and wrote reports, articles and a book for publication. Taught several undergraduate courses including a women’s studies class.