Jill’s love of movement began at a very early age. She studied classical ballet from age 3 ½ to 18, when injury forced a change in her career plans. Her focus shifted to building a career as a teacher, a coach, and a leader. She went on to earn her BA and MA in Education.

Movement was limited to anything that could fit into a tight window of time; running, lifting or walking. She retired from the investment management business after 16 years to pursue her dream of working in the health and wellness world. Jill recognized the toll that working as an executive took on her health and that of many of her colleagues. Jill began practicing yoga a little more than 20 years ago and very quickly fell in love with the Hot 26 practice.  It seemed like a perfect fit right from the beginning. The structure, discipline, focus and determination required reminded her of ballet. Within months, she noticed that her autoimmune condition was vastly improved and finally the stress of many years in investment management had melted away.  It was at this time that Jill’s interest in how the body (movement) and the mind work together to achieve optimal health moved from passing interest to lifelong pursuit. 

What are the differences that make a difference? Jill’s goal is to “pass away as young as possible, as late as possible” and share what she learns with others. In 2003 she went to Hot 26 teacher training and in 2004 Jill and her brother, Brad opened the first of three Hot 26 yoga studios in Boston and Cambridge.  Together they owned the studios for more than 15 years, offering 50+ classes a week, coaching and mentoring 35+ teachers (many of whom still teach in Boston and all over the world), providing ongoing training for clients, teachers and partners and sponsoring research to study the efficacy of Hot 26 as a treatment for depression.  Jill’s partner in this work is Dr Maren Nyer of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Jill added Inferno Hot Pilates to the studios in 2015, right after she became certified in the practice. In 2018, life circumstances required that she pass studio ownership on to others and attend to family health challenges.  Jill continued to teach yoga at several local Hot 26 studios. Jill made the best possible use of the last few years, continuing her education on the body and the mind. Jill earned her certificate in Nutritional Therapy, Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), TimeLine Therapy and Hypnosis. Jill works with clients from a variety of backgrounds to help them find their path to optimal health through diet, movement, sleep, hydration and stress management.  Her particular specialty is anyone who is facing autoimmune challenges. She is so excited to join Down Under Yoga as a part of the Hot26 leadership team. This practice has changed her life and she can’t wait to share it with the Down Under community.