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What do you do for a living?

I teach yoga, I lead yoga retreats and I’m the founder of Beloved Yogi Harlem which is a donation yoga project/studio.

What do you do to feel alive?

Connect with people. I love connecting with people. And my spiritual work is very important to me. It allows you a bird’s eye view over the world and you realize it’s not you against the machine – everything is as it’s supposed to be. It’s not perfect. It’s not utopia. If it were we wouldn’t have the work.

A lesson you learned from your mother:

Grace, how to hold space, and kindness. Those are the three most important things I learned from her. My mother was a very nonjudgmental person. She was critical of anyone even of us and our decisions. I realized her strength was in her grace of holding space in difficult times.

A lesson you learned from your father:

My father was my spiritual guru as a child. My father turned me onto everything I’m into right now. I also learned a lot about what not to do from my father. My father was so much into freedom that he was never anchored to anything. I realized that you need to be anchored. Walking a spiritual path you have a deep responsibility to be very anchored. That’s what my father did not understand.

What’s the most beautiful thing you saw today?

I led a class today. I led my students through a very difficult kriya today. When I saw everyone’s will – their willingness to take the walk – to go through their walls – that was powerful for me. That was really exciting. You need to call up supernatural powers to get through it.

What’s one thing you wouldn’t want anyone to take away from you?

There’s so many things…My daughter; My freedom; My trust of the universe – that’s what keeps me excited about life – my trust in God. My trust in general.

What’s a thought you would like to never have again?

“I’m not good enough.” and “I don’t have what it takes.”

If you could become an inanimate object what would it be?

A rocket ship or a spaceship – something that can take people into space. A space vehicle. The other thought I had was a really beautiful house. Not a big mansion, but a really cozy perfectly sized house. A place that makes people feel safe.

When do you feel most loved?

I feel most loved when I go home to my family, which I don’t do very often even though we live so close. When I do, I realize my responsibility as the oldest child. I realize how much they all look up to me – how much I inspire them and I realize my role in their lives.

What global issue would you take on if you didn’t have to worry about how?

Helping young girls internationally and nationally. Helping them bridge communities with one another so they can help each other. When I was 24 and I had my daughter people used to look at me – look down on me – like I was a teenage mother. (Because I look young) They perceived me to be younger than I actually was. I realized this is how teenage moms feel. We need to uplift and empower them because these are the girls who are becoming mothers and this is who this world is coming through – through the mother. The way we are treating young girls reflects the way we are treating our earth – Elders and children as well. 

If your life were to end tomorrow what would be left undone?

The work I just mentioned. That’s all. Nothing else. I would be okay with leaving. My daughter is very strong. I raised her to be very independent with strong navigational skills. She’s very smart – so I know she would be totally okay. Other than that the universe has been so good to me on this earth. Even though I haven’t checked everything off my list, I would be at peace except that one thing.

What’s the scariest thing that ever happened to you?

I almost drowned last year here in Nosara (Costa Rica). I was on my back floating out and I got caught in a riptide at sunset.