I believe children grow best when they feel seen, safe, and connected.

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Everything I create begins with one simple belief:

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Everything You Need Is Inside of You.

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Sometimes we simply need a little wonder, the right environment, and people who believe in us to help us discover it

 

For more than three decades, I have had the honor of working with children and adults through education, movement, mindfulness, and wellness. No matter where I am, my purpose remains the same: to create experiences that inspire wonder, build confidence, and nurture compassionate hearts.

 

Long before ZenFit Family had a name, it began as a personal journey. I discovered the joy of movement as a young girl through cheerleading and later through strength training, where I learned that movement could build far more than physical strength. I found confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection with myself - lessons that quietly shaped the way I encouraged others for decades.

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My love of stories began long before I ever dreamed of becoming an author. My mother filled our home with books, and I was rarely without one in my hands. We had a bookcase in our hallway that I visited again and again.  I even got in trouble once for bringing a classroom book home because I simply couldn’t bear to leave it behind! My mother was a wonderful storyteller, and my Mam-Maw never published a book, but was the first author to help me see how ordinary moments can become extraordinary.  She wrote a memoir of her adventures in 1939 and showed me the quiet magic that lives inside meaningful stories. Together, they gave me a lifelong love of books and a deep appreciation for the way stories can help children feel understood, hopeful, and brave. That gift lives on today in every Maisie & Joy adventure.

 

In 2020, I took a leap of faith and gave that lifelong passion a home by opening ZenFit Family. What began as a wellness studio has grown into something more - a place where movement, mindfulness, education, and storytelling come together with one purpose: helping people discover the strength already within themselves.

 

Today, I lead children's yoga programs in schools, create mindfulness resources through ZenFit Kids, teach pop-up aerial yoga sessions at ISI Elite Training in Burlington, and write the Maisie & Joy picture book series.   My hope is always the same - to invite others to discover the courage, confidence, and quiet strength already within themselves.

 

I live in North Carolina with my husband and cherished blended family and our two little dogs, Joy & Sophie. When I'm not teaching or writing, you'll usually find me exploring North Carolina's trails, gathering around the table with family, or snuggling with Joy and Sophie. I believe some of life's greatest lessons are found in nature, meaningful movement, and moments of quiet connection.

 

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING

• Children's Author

• 35+ Years of Teaching, Coaching & Youth Development

• Master of Arts in Education

• National Board Certified Teacher

• Founder, ZenFit Family

• Group Fitness, Yoga & Meditation Instructor

• Professional Development Presenter

• First Aid & CPR Certified​

• Previous Youth Athletic Coach

• A lifelong love of learning and challenge has led me to complete a Half Ironman, Half Marathon, Spartan Races, and a National Fitness Competition.

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