Bio for Teaching at Mountain Waves Healing Arts Center

A country girl who lived for two decades in New York City, Holly moved to Flagstaff in the summer of 2007 for some much-needed mother nature. She has been a singer in rock-and-roll bands, a performance artist, a painter, a writer, a regular participant in Lakota ceremonies, a leader of masterminding groups, a waitress, a yoga teacher, an executive assistant and a college student. Although she still has a busy life, mountains, fresh air and a deeper focus on yoga and fitness keep her feeling relaxed and balanced.

Yoga was a necessity for health and inner peace while living in New York. Holly first seriously practiced at Jivamukti Yoga in 1994 with Sharon Gannon and David Life when she had a fortunate respite from work. In 1996, she completed Yoga Teacher’s Training at the Sivananda Yoga Vedenta Center in Woodbourne, NY. Since arriving in Flagstaff last June, she has been studying at Mountain Waves Healing Arts Center with Emily McRobbie. What Holly loves most about yoga is that she never stops learning. She is on a slow and steady path—and doesn’t mind if the lessons take lifetimes.

Holly’s interest in the chakra system and energy work also began in the early 1990s when she first experienced reiki. Around that time, her mother introduced her to Caroline Myss and Energy Anatomy. She found the connection between our energy systems and health fascinating. In 2007, Holly received her certification to teach the Usui Method of Natural Healing. She studied with Marion Leone Wanagi Wi and Geordie Numata.

Holly graduated magna cum laude from the City University of New York at Hunter College with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Art in 2004. Her teachers included Regina McBride, Jan Heller-Levi and William Pitt Root. After receiving her degree, she continued her studies with Nada Gordon at the Poetry Project and at louderARTS. Holly’s creative skills have led her to work as a freelance writer for Cosmoplitan Magazine as well as smaller presses, creating art and designing album covers for independent record labels, and leading creative writing groups. Most recently, her poetry is up for publication in two literary magazines, Night Train and Earth's Daughters.

Despite having many interests, Holly has found that as her life shifts and changes, she always comes back to writing. Writing is an act of excavating, an uncovering of layers and discovering our own depths and imagination. Many people view writing as a lonely craft. Holly believes that when we are present and honest on the page, we can take that experience into our lives and have richer, more dynamic relationships.

Holly is interested in exploring healing through the creative process. She believes that everyone is innately creative, and, if given a nurturing space to explore, may uncover long-forgotten talents or discover new ones. She enjoys combining her healing and creative work with a sense of playful curiosity, relaxation and fun. She calls this joyful openness to possibility Sacred Folly.