Meet Erika
Movement Enthusiast | Aquarius | Aspiring Morning Person
I don’t remember the name of my first Pilates teacher, nor have I been able to track her down, but now, decades later, I realize that her teachings changed how I live my life and how I carry myself.
I had registered for a mat Pilates class at UC San Diego while pursuing a Literature degree. After struggling with a spine injury, I hoped this movement method would support my recovery.
In my first class, our teacher mentioned that she would be speaking continuously, offering cue after cue for where to focus our attention. I understand now that this was my first experience with something like meditation; I became profoundly aware of my body in every little movement.
It turned out that Pilates offered me much more than just physical healing. What I learned was how to be deeply present with myself, my body, and my breath.
My Journey
I had always pondered the human condition and what it takes to feel fulfilled, happy, and at peace in this life. Through movement and breath, I’ve discovered that many of the answers I was searching for actually lay within my body and those moments of deep connection.
For 10+ years, I have been on a journey of teaching, practice, and discovery. I have explored various approaches to Pilates, yoga, breathwork, meditation, ayurveda, qigong, and somatic therapy. I’ve studied with remarkable teachers around the world, and I’ve come to truly love these practices for the body, mind, and soul.
I am continuously learning and seeking new knowledge and tools to share. I’ve completed 1000+ hours of training in various disciplines (see certifications below). The more I learn, the more I have to remember the essence of what I truly wish to teach: awareness and embodiment. If I can help others feel more present and at peace in their lives through intentional movement and breath, then what a blessing it is to be doing this work!
Certifications and Specializations
Pilates
500 hr Comprehensive Pilates Certified (Pilates V, CA)
Mat Pilates Certified (Power Pilates, CA)
Prenatal & Postnatal Pilates Certified (BASI Pilates, Amsterdam)
Pilates for Scoliosis Certified (BASI Pilates, Amsterdam)
Pilates on Tour® Certificate Courses (Balanced Body, CA)
Yoga
RYT 200 hr Hatha & Vinyasa Yoga Teacher (Shades of Yoga, Bali)
RYT 50 hr Yin Yoga Teacher (The Fat Yogis, Amsterdam)
RYT 10 hr Yoga Nidra Teacher Training (Delight Yoga, Netherlands)
Trauma Sensitive Yoga Training (Spirit Rock, CA)
Prison Yoga Training (Delight Yoga, Netherlands)
Yogi Facilitator Training Level 1 (Delight Yoga, Netherlands)
Meditation & Mindfulness
2 yr MBSR Teacher Certificate Program (Brown University, RI)
16 wk Mindfulness Mentorship Certification (Cloud Sangha, Online)
RYT 100 hr Meditation Teacher (Sarvaguna Yoga, India)
50 hr Mindfulness in Education Training (Esalen Institute, CA)
Hip & SI Joint CE Training (Movement Logic®, Online)
History of Yoga Course (Dr. Sean Feit Oakes, Online)
Bhagavad Gita Course (The Practice Yoga Bali Online)
ACI 16: The Great Ideas of Buddhism (Three Jewels NYC Online)
8 week MBSR Intensive Training (Solterreno Mindfulness Center, Spain)
10 day Vipassana Course (Dhamma Thali, India)