what students say

“I sought out private sessions with Mem to focus on my body and improve its flexibility and strength. What came out of it was more than I ever expected. The partnership we have formed has allowed me to discover parts of my true being. Each session organically unfolds, with focus brought to what needs attention. While I have always been able to intellectually understand concepts of self-love and nurturing, Mem has been able to guide me down a path where I embrace these fully. Mem’s tutelage takes on a holistic approach; I have a greater appreciation for the transformations not only within my body but within my mind and spirit as well.”

Therry Eparwa, Seattle, WA

“I want to thank you because in addition to the class, I find our one-on-one interactions extremely helpful. Despite the diversity of our issues, I love how you personalize the class for each and every student, addressing our individual needs as well as our group issues. I appreciate how difficult that must be. Yet, you seem to excel at it and we are the beneficiaries. One time you identified a storm brewing inside me, and reached out to let me know that I was not alone. Words cannot express how much that has meant to me. I am so grateful you have come into my life and enriched it by sharing of yourself and your wisdom about Yoga.”

Tracey de Morsella, Bellevue, WA

“My life has improved in four areas while learning yoga from Mem. Balance: I am able to stand, bend over, and walk without fear of falling over. Range of Motion: I am able to raise both arms above my head and lower arms to my sides. Pain Relief: I am able to relieve pain in my hips without pain medication. Anxiety Relief: I get longer, more restful sleep with yoga learned from Mem.”

Cherry DuPree, Bellevue, WA

“Over the past several years I tried yoga, unsuccessfully, with teachers in four different settings in an effort to find a small class close to home with a yogi who tailored classes for all levels. One day while at SCCA for an appointment I noticed a flyer that yoga was offered there twice a week. I went to a class even though SCCA is 45 minutes from my home, met Mem, and spent my first truly beneficial yoga session. I remember near the end of the hour and a half, lying in shavasana in a darkened room with happy tears streaming down the sides of my face.

“After settling in each session, Mem asks each of us what we need emotionally or physically for our time together. She then structures each class differently to address our needs. She truly cares about where we are and what we need. No ‘routine moves’ or repetitive class sessions. Mem is an accomplished yoga instructor versed in Sanskrit chanting who is an intuitive leader, intelligent, fun-loving, giving of herself and a wonderful woman. She has helped me with physical and emotional balance in each and every session I have attended.”

Barbara Boling, Seattle, WA

“I began my yoga practice in fits and starts about five years ago and finally settled into a once a week session at our office, in a program that was offered there. It was very convenient and it helped to get me into a schedule. The program went through several instructors which I hear is common in the yoga world. We finally settled on Mem. Mem has been a very welcome change. She creates a very calming atmosphere to learn and grow in. I have come to appreciate her depth of knowledge of the human body, the importance of breathing techniques and the multitude of movements to focus on particular muscles.

“As my appreciation grew for yoga and the methods that Mem used I felt I needed more, that once a week was not enough. I was concerned about going off on my own and using videos or books so I talked with Mem and she developed a practice for me. We first identified the areas that I needed to work on and what my goals were. So Mem developed a series of moves for me with small stick figure diagrams with helpful explanations and tips to think about while doing the move.

“I meet with Mem every six weeks in her studio and we go over the moves and I go through my practice and she checks to make sure I am doing it correctly. We have added, changed and deleted moves over this process to focus on those trouble spots or to move on from areas that are no longer troubling. This whole process has been very natural, nonthreatening and has been extremely helpful to me.

“Yoga has been a natural fit for me. I have been meditating for about 15 years and the form of yoga that Mem teaches is a natural extension to my meditation. I do not see a time that I will not be doing yoga and I owe that completely to Mem.”

Nick Charles, Seattle, WA

“I first met Mem when she was teaching a weekly yoga class at the Renton Community Center in 2005. I had been to a few yoga sessions prior to Mem’s class, but never made an ongoing commitment. From my first class with Mem, I was hooked! I loved her clear instructions, gentle and accepting nature, and integration of chanting and yogic history into each session.

“When I left for the Peace Corps in 2007, I had my first private yoga session with Mem. I was tremendously impressed with her attention to detail and holistic approach to designing a practice that would benefit me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have minor-to-moderate scoliosis, often experiencing soreness and stiffness in my neck and low back, and Mem worked with me to design a daily yoga practice best suited to meet my individual needs. She also provided me with a book of Vedic chants from the class I had taken at the community center. Such a gift! While in the Peace Corps for two years, Mem continued to be my Teacher by sending me new practices, based on my personal goals.

“Upon returning to the states in 2009, I had spent nearly a full month traveling around Ghana on uncomfortable buses and my left lower hip/back was causing me a great deal of pain and discomfort. After nearly two months of doing an old yoga practice and not noticing any improvement, I met with Mem and her Teacher in-person to talk about what was going on in my body and elicit their help in designing a new practice for me. Within one week of trying the new practice, I felt significantly better. Within two weeks, the pain was completely gone! It was incredible!!! I could sit, run, jump, and play with ease, just like I always could!

“To this day, Mem continues to be my Yoga Teacher and a great pillar of wisdom in my life. Although I’m currently living in San Francisco, I meet with Mem when I visit Washington and often e-mail her with questions about my practice and general understanding of yoga. I absolutely love yoga and Mem has played an instrumental role in igniting my passion and commitment to practicing on a daily basis for nearly the past 5 years. I lead girls empowerment programs and I’ve been so inspired by how yoga has enriched my life, I’ve taught a few informal yoga sessions for adolescent girls and they seem to love it, too!

“Mem is a wonderful friend and a phenomenal Teacher. Any student of hers will be forever blessed!”

Susie K. Barr-Wilson, San Francisco, CA

“I came to Mem after a foot fracture hoping to recover strength and flexibility in my wounded limb, and return to normal activity without pain.

“With a gentle rhythm that is part teacher, part intuitive, and part poet, Mem ushered me into a whole new world of conscious breathing that’s made me feel infinitely calmer, stronger and freer. In all my years of yoga, no instructor ever spent so much time tying the breathing to poses, but that’s where the magic happens.

“After six weeks of doing the practice Mem created for me, I’ve gotten my physical groove back, and then some. The sacred ritual of daily yoga has also provided a grounded, nourishing retreat from work stress.

“Along with the breath work and poses, in speaking these simple words, she gave me a new language for the lingering frustration and disappointment about my injury: ‘Just because something is broken doesn’t mean it’s not still whole. It’s just different. You’re just different.’

“All of my life, I will remember her wisdom of learning to meet myself where I am and healing from that space. I could not have asked for more.”

Nailah Shami, Lynnwood, WA

“I came to Mem because I wanted to explore how yoga and meditation could support me during a time of intense personal growth and emotional healing. Finding her is a perfect example of ‘Be open, and the teacher will appear.’ I have felt so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with her one-on-one in her beautiful home studio which looks out on an amazing tree that she calls ‘The Matriarch’. I had dabbled in yoga previously, but had never settled into an on-going practice. Mem’s approach has been so different. She has eased me into breathing and poses and is helping me begin a daily practice. But more importantly, she accepts me just as I am with no judgment or expectation and provides a nurturing, healing space that supports, eases, expands, and encourages. She is truly a gift with her absolutely complete presence and attention, her intuitive ability to understand and adjust to what I need, and her tender, gentle care. I feel so grateful and blessed to have found her and cannot begin to thank her enough.”

Jessica Lynn, Seattle, WA

“Mem has been helping me with my yoga for years now. I asked her to help me put together a fun routine for young children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old. I have been teaching it since then, at our son’s Montessori School and the kids absolutely love it. I want to thank you Mem for always being there for me with your genuine kindness.”

Peter Nemeth, Renton, WA