Meet Jenn

The Short Version…

My name is Jenn, I’m a Yoga Teacher. Through Yoga, I help you live your truth.

I came back to yoga when I was 70 pounds overweight and struggling with life-long chronic depression. I was so far away from living my truth – depression completely ruled my life.

After coming back to yoga and working through the junk, processing my stuff, and dropping my stories… I developed Blended Yoga to help you step into your truth and rock your life.

I teach Blended Yoga classes, workshops and retreats in the Metro-Philly area, and online.

I offer help and support online as well – hang out with me!

Here is the Blended Yoga Facebook Page
Find me on Pinterest – I bet we have a lot in common!
Yoga Class, Short Sequences, and Meditation Videos can be found on Vimeo
I’m just getting started with Instagram – let’s see where that goes!

My Credentials…

I’ve been in the fitness industry since 1993. I’ve taught dance, and many different fitness programs including kickboxing, step, dance-based aerobics, bootcamp, cardio interval, strength training, Pilates, and Yoga. And, I’ve worked with clients in small groups and 1 on 1.

I completed my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with the YogaLife Institute and am Registered with the Yoga Alliance (RYT-200).

I’m passionate about the brain/body connection, and how what we do in our body affects our emotional and mental state. As a result, I study anatomy with Tom Meyer, and Leslie Kaminoff.

I’ve been studying with Sadie Nardini since 2009, and I’m a Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga teacher.

I’m excited to be in 5 episodes of Sadie’s TV Show, Rock Your Yoga, on the Veria Living Network.

I’m a Yin Yoga Teacher – Thank you Corina Benner of Wake Up Yoga for the most fantastic, informative, amazing Yin Teacher Training.

I also contribute to these awesome resources:

MindBodyGreen

Elephant Journal
Do Yoga. Stand in Your Truth.

When New Goals Meet Your Old Life

To see what clients and class participants have to say about me, click here.

A little about my personal journey through depression…

I started dancing and doing aerobics when I was just 4 years old. My mom laughs when she tells the story of me in my first aerobics class. She says I would go right when everyone else was going left – I had zero coordination. All I knew was, it was fun, I loved it!

As I got older, I got more serious about dance. I ended up focusing on contemporary for a good bit of my dance career.

I’ve always loved fitness and dance. Movement has always been a way for me to get out of my head, back in my body… it’s been a way for me to stop the noise in my head and reconnect… a way for me to process emotions… a way for me to sweat, express, and move through stuff.

In 2009, I discovered that I was suffering from depression; I had been suffering from it almost my entire life. What I didn’t realize was that, dance and fitness was keeping it relatively at bay. When I got pregnant and stopped all of that, the depression took over.

Below is a picture of me from January 2009… 70 pounds overweight and completely checked out… OY. That picture was taken right before I discovered my depression…

A really good friend of mine – who also happens to be a psychologist -  told me flat out to get back to my yoga practice. So I did.

 But I was afraid… My body was so different… it was heavier… it didn’t bend or balance the way it used to. I felt weak… but I was determined to make big changes and work through the depression…

I just started. Simple as that. 

I figured out what would work in my schedule, and I committed to it. I started only doing 30 minutes of Yoga, 3 times per week… that’s all I could handle.

What do you know – it worked! 6 Weeks later, I felt… better.

I’ll never forget it. I got out of bed one morning and noticed my pants were loser – not by a whole lot – but enough to notice. And, – I felt  different. I felt better. I noticed my mood improving, my haze clearing, and remembering what was real.

These first (albeit subtle) changes, inspired me to make more changes.

I started eating better – nothing drastic, just one step at a time… I started adding more movement into my week – again – nothing drastic… just one step at a time.

I’ve spent the last 4(ish) years figuring out what works for me – what makes me feel good, what is in alignment with who I am…

It’s a daily process… a non-linear journey. But, at this point, I’m loving it… I remember who I was when I was depressed… and I’m in touch with who I AM… and I want everyone to have that ability to reconnect and align with who they are… it just creates such a fantastic life, ya know?

Life is more than just yoga… (right?!?)

Alright… so what else do I do besides yoga? Well let’s see…

I have an 11 Year old daughter named Maddie. She’s an Irish Dancer, and one heck of a violinist, and a singer. I am so freakin’ proud of her I can hardly stand it.

I also have a wonderful, amazing husband named Drew. We’ve been together since 1996. He is truly my best friend and soul-mate.

I have some of the best friends on the planet… I often don’t know how I got so lucky to fall in with such amazing people. We do all sorts of stuff together – camping trips, lady’s poker night, dinners, brunches, parties… I love hanging with my friends.

I’m also really lucky to have a very close family – from my immediate family to my mom, brother, dad, step-family, uncles, and in-laws… we spend TONS of time together doing all sorts of stuff…

I, of course, have a regular yoga practice… Right now, the styles of Yoga that inspire me are Power/Adventure Vinyasa, Core Strength Vinyasa, Asthanga, and Yin. I also cross-train with Kettlebells and trail running.