Karoun Yoga
About
I have been teaching yoga for eight years, both privately and in public classes. My students come from all backgrounds - from elite athletes who need to restore to seniors who need relief from their arthritis to 20-somethings who want to perfect their head stands. I have a lot of experience, I have worked with a lot of bodies. I can look at how you move and how you get into a yoga posture and tell you exactly what to change or move to feel more integrated and alive in your yoga practice.
I like helping people to reconnect with their bodies, to feel alive and relaxed in their skin. At the end of Savasana, I like to see the brightness in people's eyes and the softness of their features. I think that giving time to oneself in this way is the greatest gift of all.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I get to know you and your yoga journey first. I take the time to talk with you about what your goals are in your yoga practice, or if you are working through an injury, we take ample time to discuss history, mobility, and goals. We can focus on anything from healing an injury through yoga to perfecting a headstand. We start slowly. Often I will watch how you stands and walks first, there is so much that I can learn about your yoga practice this way! Through your practice, my eye is honed to pinpoint any minor kinetic issues that have a major affect on body alignment and hence yoga postures. We often work with props, at the wall, and with a chair to give you more support in your postures and make progress more quickly.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
200 Hour Teacher Training completed with the following schools:
Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts (Iyengar-Inspired) 2012 - In this training I learned how to observe movement and alignment in a student, to see what they need on a muscular-skeletal level, and how to use props to support the body.
Yogafit (Vinyasa) 2010: I learned how to sequence and how to teach a solid Vinyasa yoga class.
Dahn Yoga (Qi Gong) 2008: I learned and experienced the movement of energy (Qi) in the body, how to hold and build energy in the body.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
1-hour private yoga class through Skype $55 per lesson. If purchasing a package of 4 or more, $50 per lesson.
1-hour private yoga class at my yoga studio in West Springfield, MA, $70.
How did you get started teaching?
I quit my corporate job in 2008, I had been practicing yoga for 5 years and was involved in some advanced yoga trainings. At a meditation retreat, I experienced a profound awakening, one where I could feel a deep sadness for the hurt in the world. It was so eye opening, and after that I just wanted to help to heal others through teaching yoga. I completed my first teacher training that winter.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with a full range of students! I have worked with a student with MS, students with advanced arthritis, students with ankle injuries.
I was also the teacher for the AHL Hockey team in my city, so I have worked with very athletic students who are really tight from over-use of muscles, teaching them to relax through restorative postures as well as stretch with sun salutations.
I have seen the healing power of yoga work on so many different bodies, and I look forward to a new challenge every day!
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I recently helped a couple of students in private lessons to get into their first headstand after years of practice. They were beaming after that! The boost in their ego and self esteem was palpable. I was so thrilled for them and honored to be a part of that process.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure that the yoga teacher is the right fit for you. If you have really specific issues that you are working on, a more experienced teacher is a better way to go. If you want a hot power class, then don't hire a restorative teacher! Definitely check out different teachers and know what resonates with you and what doesn't. Sometimes it is their specialty, sometimes it is their personality!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
It's good to know what you want to work on, what your goals are for fitness/wellness/relaxation. But sometimes it is OK to just start working with the teacher and we can talk through what your needs are, we can help guide you. The most important thing is to be open. As you get to know the teacher, opening and trusting is key, you will get the most out of your classes that way.