Dena ​began her yoga practice over 30 years ago whilst pregnant with the first of her 4 children. Over the years, her practice transformed from the occasional dabbling for fun and stress relief to a dedicated, daily, traditional Ashtanga Yoga practice. After many years spent adapting life changes and to injury, her practice shifted to include a movement as rehabilitation and strength supported mobility focus.

 

Originally from Toronto, Canada, she moved​ to Portland in 2006 ​so her kids could grow up with the majesty of the North West in their veins and salt water on their skin. ​In Canada, she was a midwife for many sleepless years. Now retired from midwifery, she has more time for her family, her yoga practice, and teaching.

 

As a yoga instructor she can be found teaching at multiple locations in the Portland area including 10 years and running as a Yoga Instructor at Nike World Headquarters. She has worked in groups and one-on-one with world renowned athletes, including NBA Allstars Global Elite runners and Lebron James.  She has consulted in product development, and has studied and applied cutting edge performance advances for the discriminating athletes at Nike and beyond.​

 

Dena is the yoga instructor for Laika Film Studios onsite Health and Wellness Program.  Currently she can be found teaching in person Yoga classes at YoYoYogi and Bay Club Portland. 

 

She has administered and instructed in multiple world-wide yoga teacher trainings, both 200 hr and 500 hr levels.

 

Dena's classes are informed by her many years of practice, both yoga and as a midwife, and her deep love and continuing study of the body's structure, function and dysfunction, both subtle and gross. She specializes in a more athletic, intelligent, ​and inquisitive ​class that is challenging, empowering, as well as deeply therapeutic.