I am an almost-50 married mother of four who is deeply committed to both my mind and body. I also love to help other people achieve their goals, whether they be related to academics, fitness, or a combination of the two.

Mind-body philosophy

I was a Classics major in college. A consistent theme in Greek and Roman literature is the inseparability of the mind from the body, and the importance of maintaining them both. Even Socrates, who committed his days to honing the mind, is supposed to have said, “It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”

It is this mindset that has propelled me toward dividing my time between academic and fitness pursuits. And each, I believe, makes me better at the other.

Academic background

As I wrote, I started out as a Classicist: I majored in Classics and minored in math at Wake Forest. I then earned a Master’s in Classics at Tulane, followed by a Master’s in Ancient History at the University of Pennsylvania. In both Master’s programs, I had the opportunity to teach and TA college classes, not only at Tulane and Penn, but also at Rutgers (main campus). After that, I moved to Australia with my family, where I completed a PhD in Education at Monash University.

For ten years, I lived between Australia and Singapore, during which I completed my dissertation while adding four children to my family. I also worked for various NGOs, authoring various papers on human rights and a handbook on income inequality.

We moved back to the States in 2017, and since then I have worked as a standardized test writer and tutor. My standardized test writing has largely focused on the subjects of grammar, reading comprehension, and history. As a tutor, I have worked with I love working with teens, and I particularly love helping teens find their voices and confidence. Their test scores improve along the way, too — of course — but more importantly, they begin to see that they’re capable of more than they believed. To me, this is much more fulfilling, and will set them up for success as they move into the world.

Fitness background

In my early 40s, I began to feel that something was missing. and I realized I had not been living up to my belief in the importance of both mind and body. I realized that I wasn’t moving as much as I used to, and that the little bit of fitness I did was uninspiring. I took up pole fitness because it sounded different and interesting.

It turned out that it was both of those things, but also very, very difficult. I was more challenged that I had been with any other type of fitness, and I developed more muscles. I also developed more confidence that I’d felt before. I became better at my other jobs, because I felt better, and I felt more alert and alive.

Soon, pole fitness led to other types of aerial fitness — aerial hammocks, hoops,

Now, I continue to practice and teach Pilates, because it is the best way to make sure that I’m working my muscles in a balanced and steady way, and I continue to practice pole and aerials because it’s a fun and expressive way to be fit and confident.

Commitment to Coaching

Finally, more than anything, I think of myself as a coach. Nothing makes me happier than to see one of my tutoring students hit their SAT target, or finally understand a math concept, or just become more confident in who they are and what they’re doing. Or to see a woman like myself start to feel stronger and more sure of herself as she gains strength and confidence in whatever fitness pursuit resonates with her.