About Living Beyond the Mat
Living Beyond the Mat shares yoga teacher trainings, workshops, programs and retreats with the global yoga community. We lead programs to live by, to guide you to find the best version of you beyond the yoga world. Our highly qualified and passionate mentors will help you reach your aspirations, whether its changing the lives of students by becoming a yoga teacher, changing the lives of a community by opening a studio or wellness center, or finding your most vibrant, balanced self. Our online store is stocked with intentional items to support your practice and lifestyle. Whether you are training, practicing, shopping, or being mentored with us, we will help you connect with your yoga for your mat, for your teaching and for your life.
About Jess
I found yoga right out of high school, as an addition to a fitness regime. It didn't grab hold right away, but after my first yoga class I remember thinking, "I'd like to teach yoga someday." I started by earning my certification to teach pilates, then adding yoga and other movement styles to be able to pick up more classes. By 2009 I had completely fallen in love with yoga, mainly heated vinyasa, and opened my studio Peace Love and Yoga in 2010. Peace Love and Yoga, PLAY, was built on love and passion for yoga and was welcomed and supported immediately by the community. I loved PLAY so much and gave my whole heart and then some to it to see it grow and thrive.
After a few years and continuing for many more, I lived completely burnt out. I wore my busyness like a badge and associated my self-worth with how much I could and did accomplish. My health wasn’t great, and I felt disconnected from my personal practice as a result. What I thought was healthy, wasn’t for me. I realized that even though I had been teaching for years, I was completely out of balance. In 2020, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a degenerative neurological disease. Being given that kind of diagnosis is scary, life-changing, but for me was also a very motivating wake-up call. My perspective on life, and health has changed dramatically. I’ve learned health is multi-dimensional. The human system is a whole, and the things that affect one area of your system, affect the whole system. I really feel what it means to live my yoga beyond my mat.
The support that Ayurveda and yoga have offered me on this journey continues to inspire me to create programs, trainings, classes, and other offerings. My goal is to help others see what it's like to practice more than just asana, to guide you to be an active participant in your own healing journey and to thrive not just survive.
Certifications/Qualifications
Teaching Since 2006/Leading Trainings Since 2014
500 E-RYT
YASCAP (CEU) Provider
AFAA Group Exercise
Stott Pilates Mat, Reformer and Injuries/Special Populations
IAYT Yoga Therapy Student in training (Grad Date 2025)
