Anam Cara Pathways offers gentle, embodied, in-person pathways rooted in education, mindfulness, movement, sound and holistic care. This work supports regulation, connection and well-being across the lifespan, with offerings for adults, educators, families and children.

Anam Cara Wellness & Art Studio names the physical expression of this work-as it takes shape in shared spaces, partner locations and community settings. Together, they reflect one integrated vision: creating spaces where people can slow down, listen inward and feel supported.

Founder’s Note

Anam Cara Pathways grew from many years of listening - listening to children, to families, to educators and to my own inner knowing.

My work is informed by over fifteen years in early childhood education, including formative years facilitating movement and music based classes at Gymboree Play & Music and over a decade teaching in the classroom at Mushroom Family Learning Center, where I remain deeply rooted today. It is through this work that I learned, again and again, that learning begins with connection - that children flourish when they feel emotionally held, seen and supported - and that the tools we offer young children for regulation, presence and care are ones that gently support people of all ages.

At Mushroom, I developed and facilitate original programs such as “Fill a Bucket Fridays,” a monthly social-emotional learning class centered on kindness, emotional awareness and self-regulation, and “Traveling Scientists,” a hands-on exploration of science, culture and curiosity. I also had the opportunity to design and lead staff wellness workshops that invited educators into rest, stillness, movement, reflection and care - through restorative and chair yoga, guided meditation, journaling, visualization, sound-based listening and shared tea.

Over time, I began to notice a clear through-line: whether working with children or adults, my work consistently returned to the same core intentions - creating space to slow down, to listen inward, to support nervous system regulation and to reconnect with an innate sense of balance and wholeness.

The name Anam Cara comes from a Celtic phrase meaning “soul friend.” Traditionally, an anam cara was someone who walked alongside another-not to lead or fix, but to witness, listen and offer steady presence. This meaning resonated deeply with my lived experience as an educator and facilitator. The most meaningful moments in my work have never come from directing or instructing, but from being alongside-attuned, responsive and grounded-while another finds their own rhythm, voice or sense of ease.

Anam Cara Pathways reflects this way of working. It names a practice of accompaniment rather than authority, of presence rather than performance. The work offered here is not about achieving a particular state or outcome, but about creating conditions where people-children, teens and adults alike-can feel supported enough to arrive as they are.

Anam Cara is not separate from my teaching life - it is shaped by it. It carries forward what years with children and families have taught me: that gentleness is powerful, presence is transformative and when we are met with care, we grow.

I’m honored to walk this path - grounded by experience, guided by intuition and committed to creating spaces where people can land, breathe and feel at home in themselves.

My Approach

My approach is shaped by over fifteen years in early childhood education and ongoing study in transformative teaching, mindfulness, movement, sound and holistic health. I create experiences that are relational, embodied and nervous-system supportive-rooted in safety, choice and presence. Drawing from social-emotional learning, gentle movement, breath awareness, guided listening with sound, creative expression, journaling and reflective practices, I offer pathways that invite people to slow down, listen inward and reconnect with balance and well-being. My work is grounded, inclusive and responsive-meeting each person where they are.

Experience & Training

My work is informed by a foundation in education and ongoing professional study, including:

• Early childhood education since 2008

• Over a decade as a classroom teacher at Mushroom Family Learning Center

• 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher and Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator (Breathe for Change)

• Master of Science in Transformative Teaching & Learning (in progress)

• Trauma-informed Yoga Nidra training (in progress)

• Practitioner training in Sound & Vibrational Therapies (in progress)

• Ayurvedic Health Coach certification (in progress)