As I approach my 40th birthday, I find myself reflecting on a path I began walking at the age of 20—one rooted deeply in healing, movement, and mindfulness. Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of working as both a yoga teacher and massage therapist, two professions that feel more like siblings than separate careers. Together, they have shaped the way I move through the world and serve others.

Tuscany has been my home base for much of this journey. From Arezzo, Sienna, Monte San Savino, Florence, and everywhere in between, I’ve worked with individuals and groups seeking not just relaxation, but reconnection—with their bodies, their breath, and their spirit. During retreat season, I travel to villas scattered across the Tuscan countryside, offering private yoga sessions and therapeutic bodywork for guests from all over the world. There’s something truly magical about guiding someone through sun salutations while the sun actually rises over the Chianti vineyards.

My education has been as diverse and enriching as the places I’ve lived and worked. I studied yoga in the U.S., Italy, and India—where I deepened my understanding of the philosophy that underpins the practice. My massage therapy training took me through Arkansas, California, and Chicago, each place offering its own style and emphasis on healing touch. This blend of East and West, traditional and modern, informs everything I do.

In Florence, I’ve had the honor of teaching university-level courses on Indian philosophy, yoga, and meditation for American study abroad programs. It’s been deeply fulfilling to help students explore ancient wisdom in a city that itself feels like a living classroom. I’ve also supported several start-up yoga studios and teacher training programs, helping others step into this path of teaching and holding space.

For a few years, I ran my own wellness practice in Florence, and today I continue my work from Arezzo—offering a peaceful space where locals and visitors alike can unwind, heal, and grow.

This work is not just a profession. It’s a practice. It’s a lifestyle. And it’s a privilege.

Whether on a yoga mat beneath olive trees or in a quiet studio room filled with the scent of essential oils and candles, I am reminded daily that wellness is not a destination—it’s a way of being. And here in Tuscany, where beauty and history meet in every moment, that way of being feels especially alive.