Education:
- Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP), University of Pennsylvania
- BS Economics, Accounting, The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania)
Location: Rochester, NY
Professional Experience:
Heidi holds a master’s in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) and is passionate about translating the science of well-being into practical tools for real-world impact. Building on decades of experience in mind-body education—and having taught yoga and mindfulness to thousands of students and hundreds of educators—Heidi now partners with schools, families, and organizations nationwide to strengthen resilience, connection, and well-being across learning and workplace environments.
Words of Wisdom:
“Each breath is a new beginning.” ~ unknown
Favorite Quotes:
“By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.” ~ Edwin Elliot
My Top Character Strengths:
Gratitude, Curiosity, Fairness, Hope, Love
My Story:
Twenty-five years ago, as a mom of four young children working in accounting and financial planning, my athletic side provided vital mind-body balance to my desk job and the intensity of parenting. Going for a run helped me reset, returning me to my family and work with more patience, focus, and joy.
My love for running began with middle school track, progressed to running marathons in my 20s and 30s, and continues today – though at much shorter distances. When I started feeling the physical toll of long runs, I turned to yoga, expecting simple stretching and recovery. Little did I know that I would find a whole new world!
As I felt the powerful impact yoga had on my mind and body, I began to wonder: why weren’t we teaching kids about self-awareness and self-regulation in this holistic way? I jumped in and, in 2005, completed one of the only “yoga-for-kids” trainings available at the time. I became a trailblazer, bringing yoga into schools for students and teachers. Wanting to reach the broader community, I opened the first kids and family yoga studio in Rochester, NY, in 2008.
Through yoga, I saw my students gain not just strength, flexibility, and balance, but also life skills — like managing energy, accepting emotions, practicing self-compassion, improving focus, and building meta-cognition. I wanted to deepen my understanding, so I began looking at master’s programs and discovered the Applied Positive Psychology program (MAPP) at my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania.
The research in positive psychology on topics such as character strengths, happiness, resilience, grit, and optimism gave me powerful content, frameworks, and language to enhance the work I was already doing — and to better support people in flourishing.
Since graduating from MAPP in 2021, I began an exciting new phase — combining decades of experience in yoga and mindfulness with cutting-edge well-being science. My goal is to deliver programming that empowers people to improve their well-being. I strive to blend calm expertise with playful energy, making the science actionable and engaging for the adults I work with. And yes, I still enjoy the occasional opportunity to lead sun salutations and other yoga poses to groups of K-12 students in the gymnasium or the classroom!
Morning Ritual:
Anything active and outside! 🌳🌷 Generally, this means walking my miniature schnauzer, Oliver, whether we are enjoying a warm summer breeze ☀️, crunching through snow ❄️, or splashing in puddles ☔️. Starting my day in nature gives me a sense of peace and perspective.
A Little Known Fact About Me…
One of my sons was a professional hockey player. (He is now retired and works in finance.) I have attended hundreds of his hockey games at the scholastic, junior, and professional levels all around the world, including in Vancouver, Quebec City, Savannah, TD Garden in Boston, Madison Square Garden in NYC, and Paris.