About Heather

What inspired you to start teaching yoga?

I was first introduced to yoga by my dad and Hanai family on Big Island… growing up under them meditating and focusing on breath work. We eventually moved from the islands & landed on the East Coast — with my Italian & European Jewish roots. Here I began dance & gymnastics. Gymnastics stuck and led me all the way through graduating high school, a lot of fun hard work and a few physical ailments later I had become more and more interested in the body!

When I went to college I looked back to my roots and tried out yoga. Automatically I fell in love and went back to Big Island for my first training — starting teaching the next year at school and then began to travel and incorporate teaching everywhere I went, privatizing my style fusing my yoga and gymnastics background. Mexico, Australia, Costa Rica, back and forth to Pennsylvania and Hawaii! I was teaching and living my yoga!! What a dream!

I noticed I was creating small student followings and when I would revisit I would host classes. Outside, inside, art studios, and country clubs — wherever I was, I was teaching! And loving it! As I evolved so did my teaching, diving into more trainings and taking up Lomi Lomi massage I continued to learn about the body, mind, spirit & soul.

Currently in Maui I have a community class at Ho'omana Spa and on the Paia Bay grass. Paia Bay Jog and Flow Yoga actually got started when Lululemon coined me their "guru of the month" back in 2012 and asked me to create a community class for the month. Jog and Flow was born and hasn't ever stopped.

What is your favorite pose?

Gomukhasana — Cow face pose. I used to study like this in college! Love its hip opening, but I love to pair it with breath-expanding eagle arms or a surrendering bow.

Also partial to a good twist and child's pose. Heart opening asanas are good for my soul (& everyone's). I spend quite a bit of time in supported fish pose. Open your heart.

Do you have any special mantras?

Om Mani Padme Hum — Before I even knew its significance my aunties would say this on repeat in moments when she needed to "check in." It became my mantra before I even knew its meaning — as mantras sometimes find you. Now it's healing me in so many ways.

I also love the mantra: "Accept What Is & Allow Change To Occur Around Me Without Attachment." This has helped me in many tough times to breathe and find flow in the way things unfold.

What are the biggest challenges for you in yoga?

I'd have to say slower practices like Yin and Kundalini are the most challenging for me. I'm an Aries and naturally fiery, so it's important for me to work these practices in to keep a balance. Kundalini brings up a lot of anxiety for me and Yin I can handle a bit more. But I do know it's important to bring in the slow, cooling practices as well!

How do you build relationships with students?

As a massage therapist and yoga instructor I love helping others heal themselves. People who commit to themselves and are open become really close students and clients. We end up healing each other when we show up like this!

I try my best to offer community pricing so yoga is available even to those who can't afford or aren't into a studio practice. I also attach an açaí bowl gathering after my Paia Bay Community Class on Tuesdays — a great way to connect after class off the mat in a comfortable, friendly setting with good conversation!

How do you get your practice in?

I've discovered that to be my best self I should access yoga daily. When I let myself get out of practice my body is in pain & my soul feels stale. Pain is a huge motivator and knowing how to find my grounding, my center, and come back to FULL through my practice is an amazing tool to access anywhere. So grateful for my practice!

Whether it's at home in the morning in my living room for 20 minutes or going for it at a local studio — I've been teaching since I was 18, and I always get my daily practice in one way or another, always making sure to find the balance and give the body & mind a day of rest each week to recover.

How does your personality influence your teaching style?

As a fiery Aries with a gymnastics background and being driven by my love of staying healthy and fit, my style has been born from integrating it all! My business is called ROOTED FLIGHT because in all walks of life, to grow and expand we need to be grounded in our roots. My yoga practice reminds me of this and helps me find my own Rooted Flight on my path.

What types of yoga do you teach?

I call the style I teach Vinyasa Fusion. It's a flow-based practice with building strength, core awareness, and challenging balance all worked in! I always play off my class and what's going on with everyone in it to focus the practice around each day. Sometimes it's a slow flow vinyasa fusion and other times a power flow vinyasa fusion. Love to feel the flow with my breath!