Kristen first moved here from Wildwood Crest, NJ in 1999 to attend the University of San Diego. Having swam competitively for 10 years, and rowed for USD’ division 1 crew team for 4 years, when she graduated in 2003, she sought out her next means of physical activity and community. She began to practice yoga as a way to move again, but found something more. She found a practice that left her feeling complete: physically, mentally, and spiritually connected, as well as giving her a tool to begin to reconnect with her true nature and let go of what was not.

Discovering Jivamukti Yoga, and their founders, David Life and Sharon Gannon, has been life changing for her. After taking her first class with them in San Francisco at the YJ Conference 2006, she found a sense of freedom, as well as the feeling that she had “come home.” It was then Kristen decided to take the Jivamukti Yoga teacher training being held the following year. With the closest Jivamukti teacher being in LA, Kristen began to drive there as often as she could to practice with Liz Hage, whom she expresses her deepest gratitude for. After a year, with her intention in mind, she recently attended and finished her 350-hour training with Davidji and Sharonji in May 2007.

Inspired by her teachers, Kristen offers a transformational class that is accessible to all. Incorporated into each class are the five tenets of Jivamukti Yoga: Scripture (drawing from the Source), Bhakti (devotion to God), Ahimsa (living an ethical lifestyle), Nada (yoga of sound), and Meditation (connecting to the unchanging reality within). She hopes that by living and practicing maitri and karuna, loving kindness and compassion, she can open the hearts of her students to the world all around them, bringing them recognition that all beings-in all forms-are ONE! Kristen has also found a love in discovering Kirtan and bringing it to her students through “Songs from the Heart,” a Kirtan and Heart “songshop” she co-leads with Andrew Jones, and “Sounds of Spirit,” an improvisational Kirtan group, with whom she sings with a voice gentle and powerful.

Kristen can be found giving hugs and smiles at Bird Rock Yoga, ObNamaste, University Of San Diego,Yoga Swami’s and at local Dance jams and Kirtans near you! For more information on retreats, workshops, or song circles please contact her at

liteheartyoga@yahoo.com or breathewithin@yahoo.com

Lokaha Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu: May all Beings everywhere be happy and free