How did you first discover your passion for writing?

I have always been called to express what is inside me through writing and music. The real issue was moving through cultural and familial blocks so I could more freely express what was within.

Growing up in a perfectionist household where what mattered depended on how the outside world received it, and living in a culture that valued financial success over all else, made this dance both difficult and delicate. Emphasis solely on outcome is one of the great creativity killers. It took me a long time to cultivate my courage and a sense of play.

What inspired you to teach others to access their creativity through writing?

Expressing myself authentically through my writing is a great source of power and joy for me. I wanted to guide others to experience this too. That said, there are so many ways to express yourself creatively. Through art, through music, through gardening, through dress and decor…creativity is not just about a concrete work of “art”,  it’s about being present to the world around us and responding to that. Writing is just one of these ways.

Were there any pivotal moments or key influences that guided you in your writing and teaching career?

Many years ago, just a few years into my publishing work, I taught at the Stanford Professional Publishing Course. I was standing in front of 100 plus people teaching them about creative and effective communications. I remember someone asked me a question that I couldn’t answer. I paused, gathered myself and said, “I don’t know.” That was a breakthrough. You don’t have to know everything. You don’t need to be an expert in everything. You can, and should, keep learning as you go. I ended up researching the question and I learned something new.

In my writing, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left beautiful words on the cutting room floor. Kill your darlings is the expression, I believe. If what I was writing, no matter how lovely the words, if it didn’t get at some essential truth of what I was trying to communicate, it got cut.

In what ways do you think writing can impact or enhance the spiritual experience?

Writing, or any other art form, is a leap of faith, not in the outcome, but in yourself. That you are worthy of this gift of expression. This belief in one’s worthiness is for me, a spiritual experience. You also never know how what you do will affect others and the world. I don’t mean fame, rather how your actions inspire others. We are all connected and your work is bigger than you. This is one way we humans evolve.  I have seen this in my teaching and it is profoundly rewarding and moving.

What motivated you to visit the ashram?

I worked at Yoga Journal for nearly two decades heading up their communications and running their international editions. In that time, I came to know a bit about the ashram and the excellent teacher training they provide. It is also an incredibly beautiful place. So when I was invited to teach, I jumped. And with all the chaos in our world, being surrounded by fellow seekers is the balm I need.

What do you hope participants will take away from your writing workshops?

How to access their own unique voice, cultivate a sense of play and curiosity when they write, and a belief that they are worthy of this time and attention, because all of us are.

Can you share a success story or a transformation you've witnessed in one of your students through writing?

I had one young student in a class who was so inspired by the tactile pleasure and practice of writing by hand she created a greeting card company with original inspirational, handwritten messages and drawings. And so many times I have seen people who have had such difficulty writing become more fluid, allow themselves the space to explore, and find and develop their unique voice. This is one of the main reasons I teach.

What future projects or goals are you currently working towards in your career?

I’m working on my next memoir that will weave personal stories with how to access our inner creative life. I also have a dream of a TedX talk and want to do more international teaching.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

The world needs our joy now more than ever. Cultivate your joy, in whatever ways and forms speak to you! It will ripple out in ways you cannot yet know.