I believe peace starts by changing ourselves first.For me, one of the most transformative ways of doing this has been through yoga. My personal experience has inspired me to become a yoga teacher in the Jivamukti Method, a style of yoga that integrates the physical, philosophical and spiritual practices of ancient yogic seers into a holistic and transformative practice. Jivamukti classes consist of rigorous vinyasa sequences set to inspiring music, combined with teachings on ancient spiritual scriptures, chanting, meditation, and social activism in a creative yoga practice with a strong spiritual message.
I am also a dedicated student of Buddhism, and continue to engage in deeper and more intensive meditation practices. I am a member of the Shambhala Meditation Community of Washington DC, have spent a summer residing as a resident at Bhavana Society, a traditional Theravada monastery in rural West Virginia. I am also a dedicated student of Anam Thubten, a Tibetan Dzogchen teacher. 
Aside from seeking inner peace, I am also passionate about working for peace on a societal level. I am a PhD Candidate at George Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (SCAR), where I focus on the theory, practice, and research of narrative processes in conflict dynamics. My dissertation research is on the transformation of violent individuals who have recanted their former identity and views, focusing on how their narratives evolve from stories justifying violence towards those justifying peace and nonviolence social change.Additionally, I am interested in the intersection of consciousness and conflict, an area that combines my experiences and study of yoga, meditation, and Buddhism, and applies it toward solving personal, interpersonal, and intractable social conflicts. George Mason is leading the effort in this emerging area of study with their new Center for Consciousness and Transformation.
Namaste!
