Anna’s fondest memories of childhood all take place in nature. She grew up swaying from coastal Live Oaks in a Home Depot bucket, watching her Dad hand build one-of-a-kind houses. Her Mom taught her to watch seasons & lifecycles of plants and animals in the woods behind their home. These early experiences influenced her curiosity for nature, creativity, physical movement & mindfulness.

After graduating college where she studied Art & Community Studies with a focus on Women’s Health Care Systems, Anna continued to follow her passion for humans, plants, & animals. She worked as an Animal Care Specialist at a Humane Shelter, trained as a Doula, and became a Certified Western Herbalist.

Post-education, Anna wanted to explore & adventure outside of California. She spent weeks in a costal village in Mexico learning to surf. She hiked along coasts of the Pacific Northwest, through mountains in Colorado, red rocks of Utah, and desert backcountry of California. Anna drew & photographed the medicinal plants of each area - connecting the information she learned in herbal medicine school, to her real life experience.

During this period, she completed her Personal Trainer education through National Academy of Sports Medicine. Passionate to share the exercises that helped her feel strong & capable during her physically demanding adventures, Anna enthusiastically taught outdoor group HIIT classes. She began coaching clients one-on-one.

Studying exercise greatly amplified Anna’s dissatisfaction with harmful messaging & the aesthetic promoted in fitness media. In response, she began crafting & releasing her own workout zines & skate/surf-inspired VHS-workout videos. Today, Anna remains intent to highlight the uninhibited, the aliveness, and the adventure of moving through the world as imperfect, dynamic humans in her self-published books & videos. As a coach, she strives to illuminate client’s deep knowing of their innate worth & belonging.

Next, Anna landed a job as a Personal Trainer at a luxury gym… and something didn’t feel quite right about it. She paused for a moment to consider if this was the best fit.

She knew she wanted to facilitate a genuine empowerment in clients — one that didn’t rely solely on building physical muscle, but also developed an unwavering internal strength — independent of any fleeting physical abilities. Staying true to this aspiration didn’t seem genuinely possible in the confines of a luxury gym setting. And… in the midst of this decision, the pandemic hit & gyms shut their doors.

Anna continued to coach clients online, while also diving into an intensive 2-year mindfulness meditation teacher program where she was mentored & taught by many of the world’s leading mindfulness experts.

This was a dream for Anna! The program focused on “integrating compassion & mindfulness as wise tools to navigate the realities of living in a complex & unjust world, to heal trauma, to find resilience, and to foster wellbeing”. All of which were elements Anna wanted to develop & share as a Personal Trainer. This program opened Anna’s world to coaching a beautiful spectrum of clients & athletes with deep respect & understanding.

Simultaneously woven into this life-stage, was Anna’s personal experience with chronic pain & injury. The exceptional care & mentoring she received from extensive time with Physical Therapists greatly influenced her style as a Personal Trainer. From this experience (in combination with the application of various mindfulness techniques for managing pain) Anna became even more passionate about Coaching from a place of patience & curiosity, for every body’s unique journey.

Today Anna lives a creative life in the desert backcountry with her partner & pup. She loves trail running & racing, making art, cooking, volunteering in her community, farming, reading, and spending time in nature. Anna continues to be a curious & adventurous life-long-learner.