A former dancer in Switzerland and Brazil, Katchie fell in love with Yoga in l985 and has been a dedicated student ever since. She moved to the U.S. in 1990 where she studied Yoga for Dancers with Hillary Cartwright at the Gyrotonic White Cloud Studio in NYC.
She began her studies with Sharon Gannon and David Life at Jivamukti Yoga Center and was deeply inspired by their creativity, activism and commitment to nonviolence. She taught there until l998 as a senior, certified Instructor, practicing both Jivamukti and Asthanga Vinyasa Yoga. During that time Krishna Das held a weekly Kirtan at Jivamukti and it is through him that she learned the devotional practice of chanting and playing the harmonium.
She received certification for Teacher Training Level One and Two at Integral Yoga Institute under the guidance of Sri Swami Satchidananda and also taught there for several years. Katchie continued her studies with Kevin Gardiner in the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar.
Fascinated by Richard Freeman’s internal and sophisticated knowledge of Yoga, Katchie moved to Boulder to study with him. She taught at the Yoga Workshop for 3 years and helped set up Richard’s first teacher training which she completed in l999.
Since then she has immersed herself in Anusara Yoga and is a dedicated student of John Friend. Katchie has traveled extensively with John throughout the US as his apprentice and assistant and is an certified Anusara Yoga Teacher. She recognizes the Anusara system as an elegant method of embodying the sacred in the world and John’s scientific alignment principles and joyous instructions have revolutionized her practice as well as her teaching.
Deeply inspired by Buddhist teachings, in particular those of Jack Kornfield, Katchie is an avid practitioner of Vipassana Meditation.
Today, Katchie lives in the Bay Area of California where she is committed to raising awareness about world issues. Through working with John Robbins (Author of Diet for a New America) and Ocean Robbins (Founder of YES! — Youth for Environmental Sanity) Katchie has learned important information about human and animal rights, social justice and how to join forces to create a peaceful and sustainable way of life for all. She teaches yoga at her studio, Yoga Sangha, in the Mission district, in San Francisco. On the web, visit www.yogasangha.com.
