Christine Carpenter

My first ashram was the Chester Elementary School gymnasium and first yoga guru my gym teacher Om Arora (I am so not making this man’s name up!) Unlike today, yoga in a U.S. public school was virtually unheard of in the early 70s. Regardless, this was where my eight-year-old self first learned about yoga and creative movement and where my love affair with each of these beautiful ways of being took hold. I was a shy and truly competition adverse girl—last one picked for dodge ball, first one pegged in the head and tagged out. Being given permission to move myself with such freedom and peace was a true inspiration.

I am now a grown-up yogini with decades of practice in my body and heart and a lovely and expanding circle of children, teens and families who I am blessed to practice with, help inspire in their own yoga practice and learn from.

The experiences I create and help facilitate have a solid grounding in hatha yoga, as well as play, dance, storytelling/story weaving and improvisation. Environmentalism and respect for the natural world are themes near and dear to me and one’s that color my teaching.

As a result of my CircusYoga trainings and my friendships and collaboration with those in the CircusYoga tribe, my teaching has blossomed and become more spacious—allowing more for the spontaneity of each individual and becoming informed by the group dynamic rather than just a pre-set lesson plan.

I am honored to now be passing on my own version of yoga to those in my community. I believe that our experiences together have the ability to create stronger, healthier children and families, and, as they share their joy for yoga, play and movement with others, a healthier world.

CYTT: Level 2

hometown: Altamont, NY

teaching area(s): Guilderland, NY, the Albany, NY/Capital Region and wherever else I’m invited to spend time

current teaching: mother/daughter, family, emerging teen and seasonal/nature-themed yoga; Brownie and Girls Scout yoga samplers and badge work; school-based yoga for students and teachers; workplace yoga

education/training/experience: CircusYoga Level 2 Certification; Radiant Child Yoga Program (RCYP) level II; MS in Elementary Education, College of St. Rose; BA in Journalism, SUNY College at New Paltz

influential teachers: Nature, my family, Casey B., Shakta Khalsa, Erin and Kevin, each and every child, teen and elementary/middle/high school teacher I meet…and, the countless others who remind me to love, dance, leap and fly

current studies/adventures: life and love

contact me:

Christine Carpenter

(518) 788-8680

email Christine

my teaching schedule

weekly classes:

Orenda Yoga and Healing Arts

Guilderland Center, NY

www.orendayoga.org