Who Am I?

The short story:

Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.). Arizona

Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. The Ayurvedic Institute. Albuquerque, NM

Master of Science in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. Southwest Acupuncture College. Boulder, CO

Certified Massage Therapist. Nevada School of Massage Therapy. Las Vegas, NV

The slightly longer version:

I spent most of my teenage years in the punk rock music subculture — exploring what was beneath the surface, pushing against boundaries, and trying to figure out who I was and what my place in the world would be. I can see now that it was the beginning of a lifelong interest in self-study, authentic living, and the kind of healing that goes deeper than the symptom.

That thread led me to massage therapy in my early twenties, which opened the door to Ayurveda, then acupuncture, then Jyotish and Vāstu. I studied Ayurvedic medicine at the Ayurvedic Institute under Dr. Vasant Lad, BAMS, and Dr. Claudia Welch — a rigorous program covering diet, lifestyle, herbology, Panchakarma, Marma therapy, and Sanskrit. I went on to complete a 3,500-hour Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, CO, including 1,800 clinical hours.

My study of Jyotish (Vedic astrology) and Vāstu Shastra has been equally deep and ongoing, working with teachers including Govinda Das, Achala Sylwia Mihajlovic, and Ernst Wilhelm, among others. These systems have become the heart of my practice.

I now call Tucson, AZ home. I founded Common Roots Acupuncture, a busy 501©(3) nonprofit clinic providing affordable acupuncture to the Tucson community, where I also serve on the board. I have taught workshops on Vedic and Chinese medicine topics and have served as adjunct faculty at the Arizona School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine.

The work I do

I work with people who want to understand themselves more clearly — where they are, where they are going, and what is getting in the way. Jyotish and Vāstu are the primary tools I use to do that.

• Jyotish (Vedic astrology) illuminates the patterns and timing of your life — your strengths, your challenges, and the cycles that shape what is possible when.

• Vāstu (Vedic Feng Shui) addresses the spaces you inhabit — aligning your home or workspace with natural forces to support the life you are building.

I now call Tucson, AZ home. Aside from my private practice of Vedic astrology and Ayurveda, I founded and am on the board a busy 501(c)(3) nonprofit acupuncture practice, Common Roots Acupuncture, providing affordable and accessible acupuncture to the Tucson community. I also enjoy teaching workshops on Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine topics as well as being adjunct faculty at the Arizona School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine.