I live in Oakland California with my husband, a pit bull terrier and six chickens. I teach Forrest & Vinyasa yoga classes full-time and I am also studying the Life/Art Process at the Tamalpa Institute to work as a movement and expressive arts therapist. I am also passionate about food and provide both one-on-one and group health and nutrition counseling services. I have travelled extensively and speak conversational Russian and look forward to going back to Seoul Korea, my last trip abroad. I bicycle commute around the Bay Area and love making cycling part of my travels.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I hope to make new friends abroad but it is difficult to do so when you are stuck in a hotel! I look forward to both staying on couches, and making mine available once we are set up to do so.

Interests

art, culture, yoga, dance, performance, music, food & cooking, bicycles, dogs & animals, gardening, the great outdoors

• animals
• dogs
• chickens
• arts
• culture
• performing arts
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• yoga
• instructor
• partying
• gardening
• traveling
• eating out
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• track and field
• history
• law
• tourism
• sightseeing

Music, Movies, and Books

My music tastes fluctuate and in general I just really love music. Lately I rely on public radio and internet radio to turn me on to new sound. I am currently interested in artists SBTRKT, Bonobo, Little Dragon, Active Child, Janelle Monae, Laura Mvula, & Ceelo Green. Old standbys include Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, the Cocteau Twins, Stereolab, Thievery Corporation, Bjork, The New Pornographers & Neko Case. I grew up in Seattle in the 1990s so I will always have a soft spot for Nirvana and grunge. I haven't been involved in music as a performer in a very long time but spent time in choral groups as a child and in college.

I have a lot of cookbooks and reference books for the work I do. I haven't read a novel in years! I was a Russian language and literature major in college and the works of Mikhail Bulgakov are really awesome.

I love movies and TV and lately I am particularly into BBC dramas and mysteries, sci fi, and almost anything HBO.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Nine years ago I travelled to Slovakia with my husband to track down the small village where his grandparents were born. With the help of a local guide we were able to find birth records in an old church ledger. It was an exciting visit to both see rural Slovakia and then modern Prague in the Czech Republic.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am happy to offer my services as a yoga instructor and wellness counselor when I travel. My skills are very portable! I would love to learn about local cuisine and cooking. I would love to learn about local culture and history.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I hope to share meals, walks, sightseeing, shows and plenty of conversation. I will be a respectful and clean guest and will gladly do the dishes and keep your home tidy during my stay. In general I wake up early and go to bed by 10 or 11. I'm rarely a late-night party animal unless I get swept up by surprise or get an offer too good to resist :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, North Korea, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation, United States, Uzbekistan