Born and raised on the Hook Peninsula in Ireland, I initially found my movement passion in personal training and strength & conditioning. Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit were my sports, and I even ventured into Ireland's Strongest Woman competition, securing a proud fourth place. But amidst the physical rigor, I encountered yoga. The demand for flexibility and mobility in sports like weightlifting led me to discover Yin Yoga, igniting my love for the yoga practice.

Living on the remote Hook Peninsula meant no nearby yoga studios. So, I turned to online platforms like RomWod and exploring various yoga styles from Ashtanga to Vinyasa through YouTube. Yoga gradually claimed a significant portion of my training time, becoming a cherished daily ritual.

Before my yoga immersion, life had already taken me on an adventure. A seasoned traveler, I lived in New Zealand, France, and explored Asia & Europe. In 2008, I met my husband, Liam, also from the Hook and our shared love for adventure became the foundation of our unconventional family. In 2017, we set out on a two-year European camper van journey, homeschooling the children along the way while documenting our experiences on our blog "Livin' off the Hook."

As we travelled around Europe, my dedication to yoga found an unexpected outlet. In campsites and on beaches, I began teaching yoga to fellow travellers, sparking a passion for teaching the practice. It was during this journey that I decided to deepen my yoga knowledge, leading me to find Suryalila and the Frog Lotus Yoga Teacher Training.

Suryalila Retreat Center, nestled in the heart of Andalucia, Spain, became a winter sanctuary for my family. In 2018, I enrolled in their January 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, and that first session marked my first-ever in-person yoga class. The experience was nothing short of magical; an unforgettable sunrise practice in the Om Dome. The training was intense, filled with early morning meditations, yoga workshops, and profound sessions on philosophy and anatomy. 

While I immersed myself in learning, Liam and the kids contributed to some of the ongoing eco-building projects at Suryalila. Little did we know that our initial plan to stay a few weeks would extend to us now living here full time. One morning, not long after my teacher training, I went to one of the Suryalila morning classes, and with some apparent confusion in the schedule and no teacher present, I found myself leading a yoga class in the Om Dome. The positive response from guests and Vidya's encouragement led to me becoming a regular on the daily schedule. Suryalila had become a second home, and it wasn't long before we were hosting retreats, soaking in the centre's serene energy and enjoying being part of the community.

Lockdown at Suryalila became a unique experience, living in a community as the world grappled with uncertainty, we found comfort within the retreat's protective bubble. In June 2020, as the first lockdown eased, the Irish embassy offered us repatriation. We returned to Ireland, but the call of Suryalila remained strong. Back in Ireland, we established our own wellness business, "Livin' off the Hook," offering yoga, breathwork, and strength classes. Our search for a studio led us to an old garden centre on Hook, where we created a thriving hub. We even built our own dome to hold our classes in but a turn of events meant we had to close our business there and take down the dome.

Our journey continued, however, and in November last year when we were bringing our own fully booked retreat to Suryalila, Vidya offered me the role of Marketing Manager. With the proceeds from our business in Ireland, we secured an apartment in Prado del Rey, making Spain our permanent home. Today, our kids attend the local school, and Liam and I continue our work at Suryalila.

My yoga teaching style has evolved over the years, blending inspiration from my favourite teachers, practicality of the advanced trainings I've done, and just my innate down-to-earth wisdom. Teaching in the Moon Shala and Om Dome remains a surreal experience, with breathtaking surroundings enhancing each class. As I continue to grow in my practice and teachings, I aspire to offer training modules in functional movement, anatomy, and strength and mobility development.