Free Classes all day May 22nd
Free classes for all on Wednesday May 22nd! Bring your friends! 9:30am Vinyasa Level 2; 4pm Kids Yoga; 5:30pm Iyengar Level 1; 7pm Iyengar Level 3.New Class begins May 1
Sunday 11:30am-12:45pm is on starting May 1st! Erin McNally will teach an Iyengar level 1-2. This is a great way to brush up on your foundation of yoga asana (poses) and get a little workout at the same time!Free classes all day April 22nd!
A great day to start your yoga practice!! 9:30am with Amanda, 5:30pm with Paul, and 7pm with Paul! See yoga schedule for more information.Changes to Schedule effective March 4th
We will no longer be running the Monday Power class at noon. We have two new gentle classes, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45am, check them out! Thursday 5:30pm class is now Vinyasa Foundations, great for beginners!
It is with great pride, courage, and excitement that we bring to you this new, expanded, and improved Karoun Yoga location in West Springfield! Â Â We moved with the intention of giving our clients the ease, accessibility, and joy of practicing yoga in the one of the most convenient locations in the Greater Springfield area!
In addition, we aim to give you the most beautiful space possible to practice yoga in -- a space that enhances your sense of clarity, wellbeing, and focus. We have put together a state-of-the-art yoga facility, complete with spacious changing rooms, private bathrooms, a retail yoga clothing section, and full-time receptionists to answer any questions at any time!
We are lucky offer to you some of the best instructors in the area! Every instructor has their 200 hour certification approved by Yoga Alliance, and some have completed their 500 hours of training. No matter which class, you will be lead in a safe, caring manner, you will have fun, and experience strengthening and toning as well as relaxation and finding ease! Welcome!
Upcoming Yoga Classes:
Karoun Charkoudian
Karoun began practicing yoga in 2003 in a time between grad school and her first corporate job - feeling a lot of pressure and confusion in her life. A friend brought her to a Bikram class in Newton, MA, and it was during yoga only that she could find peace and clarity in her life. After her move, she delved into a creative and loving form of Vinyasa Flow at The Joy Yoga Center in Houston, TX. And then in 2007, she began an intense yearlong study with Qi Gong masters from Korea through Dahn Yoga, and it was with them that she completed her first teacher training. Although she felt a deep calling to Qi Gong, she wanted to teach a style of yoga that was more readily accessible to the American culture. From there she completed 200 hours with Yogafit in the Vinyasa Flow style. In 2012 she wanted to deepen and broaden her practice and what she had to offer to her students, and so she completed 200 hours in the Iyengar style at the Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts in Northampton. Karoun loves the accessibility and clarity of the Iyengar style. She also infuses the depth of spirit and energetic art of Qi Gong into her teaching.
Kimberly Perry
is a 200hr. certified Instructor through School Yoga Institute. She received her certification in Sadhana Hatha and Vinyasa Flow in 2010. Kimberly began practicing yoga over 10 years ago in order to help manage pain associated with her scoliosis. She has also studied Prenatal Yoga under Mia Borgatta and has completed level I Thai Yoga Massage.
Paul Menard
Paul Menard began studying yoga in 2002 and has maintained a regular practice ever since. His background in dance gives him profound appreciation for the intricacy of the form that the yoga tradition affords. His elegance and grace shines though his postures and the execution of his teaching. In addition to yoga, Paul has a passion for education. He completed his master's degree in Adult Education and Training in early 2011 to compliment his career as a workplace learning and development professional. He is a Yoga Alliance certified instructor, is enrolled in a 300-hour advanced yoga teacher certification program at Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts, and is seeking other professional credentials as an educator.
Amanda Leonesio
While attending college full-time and working full-time, I realized how out-of-tune I had become with my body and mind. It was then that I took my first yoga class. I left the class feeling a calmness that I inevitably fell in love with. Since taking my first class, I kept a consistent practice and ultimately realized I would love to be an instructor. I completed my 200 hr. Hatha Interdisciplinary and Vinyasa Flow certification from Frog Lotus Yoga in North Adams, Ma.
Lisa Page
200-hour certified yoga instructor through the Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts in Northampton, MA. She began practicing yoga in 2001 after taking her first class in the gymnasium of the school where she was teaching. Since then, she has journeyed as an educator and mother with yoga always by her side. Lisa enjoys teaching yoga to her 3 young children and is excited to share her love of yoga with other children in a playful experience of movement, laughter, and learning.
Erin McNally
Erin has been around yoga for most of her life but it wasn't until 2008 that she started studying seriously. Since then she has cultivated a deep understanding of her own body through her practice with Hatha Yoga teachers in Puerto Rico and, most recently through intensive teacher trainings in Iyengar Yoga with Karuna Yoga Center in Northampton, MA. She is certified at the 200-hour level and is now participating in advanced training. Erin's background in alternative education and social justice work has been a motivating factor in her in pursuit to become a Yoga teacher. She aspires to use the teachings of Yoga as a method of empowerment and advocacy.
Talia Scalise
Talia graduated from UMASS-Amherst with a BA in Psychology and began working in the mental health field. Talia initially tried yoga with only physical fitness in mind. She quickly learned that a focused practice promoted an overall improvement in health, happiness and wellbeing. She soon became eager to share the science of yoga with others. Talia graduated with a 200 hour Yoga Certification from the Yoga Alliance Registered school, A Jewel In The Lotus in Islip, NY. She graduated with a Master's in Psychology from SUNY-Stony Brook in 2011. Talia firmly believes that everyone can benefit from yoga in some way.
Debbie Clifford
Debbie is a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher and has been teaching for over ten years. She began practicing yoga as a way to slow down and focus on the body/mind connection. Her practice led her to study many styles of yoga and massage therapy.She loves teaching gentle yoga and believes that if one can breathe then one can practice yoga. Debbie has a B.S. in counseling and psycology and an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from Springfield College. Her yoga practice keeps her open to all the possibilities that life has to offer. Every day is a new beginning!
Carleen Sarno
Yoga Class Packages
Single Yoga Class \ Drop-In
| Drop-In Yoga Class | $14 | |
| College Students (With School ID) | $12 | |
| Senior Citizens (65+) | $12 | |
| Teen (through highschool); | $6 | |
| Child accompanied by parent (with prior permission from studio) | $6 | |
| This plan is the most beneficial for those with constantly changing schedules. No commitment, pay as you go. | ||
5 - Yoga Class Package
| Standard 5 Class Package | $55 | |
| College Students (With School ID) | $50 | |
| Senior Citizens (65+) | $50 | |
| The best way to feel the effects of yoga is by coming regularly. This is a commitment to yourself and your wellness. The more regularly you come, the less expensive the yoga! This card purchase brings the price down to $11 per class. Good for 2 months. Extended only if due to illness or unexpected leave, must contact studio via phone or email to extend this card. | ||
Unlimited Monthly Yoga Classes
| Unlimited Monthly Yoga Classes | $85 | |
| This is one of the most economic plans. You can start this on any day of the month, and it will be valid for 30 days from the date of start. If you go to 3 classes per week you will feel amazing and you will take class for only $7 per class. | ||
Unlimited Yearly Yoga Classes
| Unlimited Yearly Yoga Classes | $750 | |
| This is the most economic plan. One-time payment only. With this plan you get to bring 3 guests with you for free every month (that’s a $504 value). Guests cannot already be members of the studio. Guest can only attend 3 classes per month total as a complimentary yearly member guest at Karoun Yoga. | ||
Weekly Yoga Class Schedule
The placement of your mat adds value to your yoga experience!
You might notice that your instructor has been guiding you to shift your mat in the studio to orient the student yoga mats in a new way! We are now placing the mats in a semicircle around the teacher, closer to the teacher rather than in a line closer to the wall. Why are we [...]
The Medical Benefits of Yoga
Many of us who practice yoga can attest to the wonders it does for not only our bodies but our minds. So, how does our practice hold up against other forms of physical fitness? As practicing yogis, are we validated by health care professionals in our pursuit of overall health and balance in life? One [...]
Karoun Yoga: What to Expect
Your body went a little farther this day than you thought it could; when you thought you could stretch no deeper, lengthen no longer, support the weight of your body no stronger- you did. You lay on your back in shavasana, listening to your instructors nurturing voice express their gratitude for sharing your practice with [...]
Life Force
Monday afternoon was a different kind of day for me. For a long time I had been anticipating this part of my anatomy teacher training (this is my second teacher training) — going to see cadavers at the Springfield College Allied Health Department! I was nervous as anything (could I handle it?). We grouped around [...]
Softness and Strength
The yin and yang symbol represents balance. This means balance between hot and cold, light and dark, up and down. In yoga, yin and yang means a balance between strength and softness, energy and calm. My students have been progressing wonderfully in their yoga classes, and today they mentioned that sometimes they feel sore after [...]
Can you lose weight with yoga?
This is one of the most common questions I get from people regarding the yoga practice. With regards to eating, check out my previous blog (raw foods), however, I believe that yoga targets the weight issue on a much deeper level. Most eating is emotional and related to stress. People overeat and snack typically when [...]
Raw Food
I have been trying out the raw food diet over the last two weeks! I have lots of energy and feels calm and focused – so similar to benefits of the yoga practice! Because this eating style has felt so yogic, I decided that I’d like to share my experience with you! Here is my [...]
The Yoga Space
Did you know that the space in which you do yoga can affect your practice? In fact, every aspect of the yoga studio helps to provide a more effective yoga experience! Is it worth the drive? Absolutely! Clean: You’ll notice that the studio is very clean. In yoga we “clean” the energy blocks in our [...]
Discovery
What fun it is to watch a child’s first easter egg hunt — the experience of such amazement and wonder from the discovery of a simple plastic egg. As I watched my boyfriend’s niece — a strong and active 15-month old — the joy of discovery was contagious. On that crisp Easter afternoon, her family [...]
The Yoga of Transitions
Last week was moving week for me, and although the move was only 2 blocks away, it was as disorienting as any move might be. And so today, as I sit in my new bright condo, staring at the boxes left to be unpacked and general disorder, I realize how quickly we try to get [...]
Yoga for Tax Season Stress
Anyone doing their taxes and getting really stressed out about it? I just started mine, I felt really organized about accounting all year, and then I took one look at my receipts folder (virtually and physically) and thought, yikes!! How can we make tax prep less stressful, and overall, just get it done!? Here is [...]
Creativity
We as humans are naturally creative creatures. When we allow ourselves to create without judgement, we are allowing our mind to quiet and our hearts to come alive. This is like practicing yoga, but off of the mat! Did you ever notice that as kids we were always encouraged to create crafts, music, art, etc. – and [...]
Yoga and Live Sitar Nov 21st!
Special treat for Thanksgiving week… Yoga and Live Sitar! Monday November 21st 5:30pm Bob Markey will be joining us to play the Sitar as we move and groove through our yoga practice! Chill, listen, breathe, and stretch…and enjoy the ethnic and ecclectic sounds of the sitar! Yoga class prices remain the same. Karoun will be [...]
Halloween Yoga
Here are some poses to celebrate Halloween in a yogic way! Note: names of poses have been changed in order to celebrate Halloween! 1. The Cauldron Dance 2. Agile Scarecrow 3. Perched Bat 4. Transitional Tree 5. Fallen Leaf 6. Happy Pumpkin 7. Witch’s Broom Have a happy Halloween and see you at Yoga this [...]
New Morning Classes!
We are now holding classes Mondays 7-8am, Wednesdays 6-7am, and Saturdays 8:30-9:45am. These classes will be held in addition to the regular class schedule. Classes are an invigorating All Levels with plenty of modifications offered for everyone to feel comfortable. A great energizing way to start your day!
Finding Space and Ease
Finding space in our lives is a great way to practice yoga — whether in a yoga class or not! Space gives us ease in our lives. Having space both internally and externally can help us to feel a much greater sense of peace. However, finding space is not always easy. Often, we have aches [...]
Balance
Balance poses are very frustrating for many people! Many say that progress in the balance pose in yoga is related to progress of balance in life. Having balance in life is a challenge, especially in this very fast paced world: there’s personal time, family time, work time, relationship time, creativity time — and the list [...]
Independence: The 3rd Chakra
Celebrate your independence this weekend by connecting with your third chakra, the place of personal power. The United States was born because of the desire for freedom, to give the individual power and rights. In celebration of all of this, we can connect to our third chakra, and stimulate our own personal power from within [...]
Free Post-Tornado Community Yoga Classes
Karoun Yoga is offering free onsite community yoga classes to relieve stress in the aftermath of the tornado. Karoun Yoga will go to schools, community centers, churches, hospitals, offices, or homes to bring the healing and stress relieving benefits of yoga to the greater community. Donations are optional, and all donations will go to local [...]
Clear Sight
Our eyes are a critical tool for seeing the world around us. However, we utilize our eyes for so much more: We see with our eyes, express with our eyes, decipher information with our eyes, and communicate with our eyes. Raising the eyebrows, scrunching the forehead, squinting, and laughing are just a few of the [...]
Frequently Asked Questions
Click to Expand
- What is yoga?
- Yoga means "to yoke" (body and mind) in Sanskrit. It has been developed over thousands of years in the ancient Indian tradition. Though there have been many different meanings of yoga over time, the entire system of yoga includes practices of peacefulness in every aspect of life. Today, we know of yoga as a set of postures including stretching, strengthening, breathing, and meditation -- this is what you will find in yoga studios today!
- I'm not flexible, can I still come to yoga class?
- Yes! If you are not flexible, then yoga is especially good for you! You will become more flexible through the practice of yoga, and you will notice a big difference in ease and quality of life as you become more supple.
- Are there men in the yoga classes?
- Yes! Sometimes there are classes where there are more men than women. We even have a male instructor!
- Can I lose weight if I do yoga?
- Most eating is emotional and related to stress. People overeat and snack because they are tired, overwhelmed, or stressed. Because when we were little our parents gave us food and love, we equate food with love. When we are feeling unhappy or alone, we eat looking for more love. Yoga helps us to release stress, feel stronger, healthier, calmer, and generally more whole and satisfied in our lives. Because of this, yoga can help us to lose weight. This is not a fad diet or one month belly buster routine, this is a lifestyle change. When we feel more relaxed, stronger, and more centered, we no longer have voids to fill with food. We are already complete.
- I'm new to yoga, where should I start?
- We have lots of new to yoga beginners coming into the studio, welcome to our community! Please attend any level 1 class! In our Level 1 classes, the pace is slower and poses are broken down so you can learn the fundamentals. Please arrive to your first class 15 minutes early, and discuss any special needs you may have with the instructor.
- Should I bring a yoga mat?
- The studio supplies yoga mats, blankets, blocks and straps. It is nice to have your own mat but absolutely not necessary. If you are new to yoga, feel free to use a studio mat for a month or so to get a feel for the practice, and then it's nice to buy your own! We sell mats at the studio as well.
- What should I wear to yoga?
- Please wear clothes that are comfortable that you can move in. Clothes should not be too loose as it is easier for the instructor to help you in poses if they can see the alignment of your body. Please refrain from wearing jeans as you will not be able to get into many poses and will not get the full benefit or value out of the yoga class. If you wear shorts, make sure they are down to the knee. We do yoga barefoot.
- Can I eat before class?
- You should not eat between 2-4 hours before class.
- Should I bring water to yoga class?
- You are welcome to bring your own water, just make sure that it is in a bottle with a tight fitting lid. We do have a water cooler with cold filtered water, though we do not supply cups. Bring your own water bottle and fill up!
- How early should I come to a yoga class?
- Please arrive 15 minutes early to your first class as you will have a form to fill out and will want to take time to chat with the instructor about yoga class packages, as well as any special needs. After your first class please arrive 10 minutes early to take time to sign in, set up your mat, and arrive in the room. Especially after a hectic day, taking time before yoga class to settle is crucial. When you arrive late you disrupt the energy that is established in the class already.
- What if I need to leave class early?
- If you need to leave early on rare occasions, please let the instructor know and place your mat in the back of the room closest to the door. Please note that the end of class is the most meditative and it is disruptive to leave early. However, because we know that you have a life outside of the studio, it is OK to leave a little early, on the rare occasion that it is necessary for you, and we will try to be accommodating.
An Open Door
"I was in my late 20s, and I came to a place where I decided that the corporate work world just wasn’t for me," she told BusinessWest. "So I quit my job and just planned to take some time off."
The Armenian Side of Yoga
There is a connection between the woman’s name and her mission. "Karoun" in Armenian translates to "spring" or "starting again," as the season may indicate. The fact Karoun Yoga has entrenched its roots in "Spring-field" makes it a city in the process of rebirth.
Interview: Karoun Yoga
One of my students is amazed at how yoga helps her run. It’s helped expand her stride and increase her strength and stamina. Other students have noticed that a regular yoga practice helps diminish their anxiety issues. Another student told me that her day is simply more manageable when she realizes it's a "yoga day.”
Strictly Businews Video
When you think of Yoga, what do you think of? Bending? Sweating? How about health? Inner peace? No? OK, well you need to check out Karoun Yoga, located in Springfield, MA, and Springfield’s only yoga studio.
