Hi, I’m Kari.

I’m fascinated by the human body - how it moves, changes over time, what it’s capable of, and how mind, spirit, and experience are all intertwined. I feel grateful for the incredible gift of simply inhabiting it.

Read more about me below.

Work With Me

500+ Hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT)

I discovered yoga during my university years, exploring Ashtanga, Hatha, Kundalini, and Anusara, though I never settled into a single style. As a former runner, I found Vinyasa Flow in 2009, a practice that helped me work with the structural challenges that come from long-distance running and the natural changes of the body over time. I was drawn to the fluid, expressive movement of Vinyasa, a quality that continues to inspire how I teach today.

What began as a way to heal injuries, build strength, and break a sweat eventually grew into a deeper practice of connecting breath, body, and mind.

My teaching is rooted in the study of the spine, anatomy, and the ways dysfunction can show up in both yoga and everyday life. I bring this lens to all my classes, offering detailed cues, mindful alignment, and creative variations so each student can meet a pose in a way that works for their body.

I emphasize breath, curiosity, and playfulness, always with a sense of openness and humor. I love helping students explore poses in ways that feel both physically supportive and mentally enriching, cultivating healthy, sustainable habits for long-term wellbeing.

Certifications & Education

  • 200 Hour RYT Training - Sellwood Yoga

  • 300 Hour RYT Training - Sellwood Yoga (500 Hour)

  • 55 Hour Spine, Anatomy, Dysfunction and Application Yoga Teacher Training - Yoga Medicine

  • Anatomy Training - Yoga Engineer - Richelle Ricard

  • Anatomy Intensive - Yoga International

  • Preventing & Managing Common Yoga Injuries - Jason Crandell

  • Modern Yoga Essentials (Anatomy) - Heart & Bones Yoga

  • Yoga and Your Nervous System Intensives - Various Instructors

  • Yoga Detour Method Immersion

  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - Jon Kabat-Zinn

  • Mindful Self Compassion - Jennifer Stratton/Margaret Townsend

  • The Living Breath - Breathwork Training

  • Cultural Somatics - Racialized Trauma Course

  • Certified Prenatal, Birth and Postpartum Doula

  • American Red Cross CPR and First Aid Certification

What people are saying.

  • “The consistent practice of caring for my back and spine with an instructor who is passionate about the practice of yoga and not only challenges me but herself as well. Kari’s class also helps me be aware of what my body is capable of and encourages gratitude and appreciation for my strength and capabilities. ” - M.F.

  • “One: Kari is the best. Two: I love Kari's degree of care in her sequences, even if they are hard and I give her death stares in class. She will always say "I'm doing this for you" or "You'll thank me later" and it is so true. I have seen my practice grow a lot because of her influence and her encouraging me to try a different variation of a pose as she knows I can do it often before I do. She always offers something different and no two classes are the same.” - S.Y.

  • “Kari has a playful and exploratory approach to teaching. Her extensive anatomical knowledge has made me much more aware of my hyper-extension tendencies and the micro-adjustments that help me manage them.” - A.D.

  • “Kari is a very supportive, knowledgeable instructor. I love the way her classes often focus on a theme, like twisting or balance, and the poses build on that theme throughout class. You can tell she plans her classes very thoughtfully. I always leave Kari’s classes feeling energized and centered. I feel like I’ve done something really good for my mind and body. ” - J.L.

  • "I have been going to Kari’s Wednesday vinyasa flow for almost two years. My yoga practice has deepened with Kari’s guidance, her fun yet challenging sequences, and her grounding start and end to the practice. Kari is the best. She’s inclusive, light hearted, challenging but always fun." - E.H.

  • “Kari is really great with cueing and explanations on why and where we might be feeling the stretch in different positions. Lot's of "This is where I am staying because that's what my body is telling me today." That helps me stay out of go-go-go-mode. If you sit in a chair for work all day, you need Kari’s Yoga for a Healthy Spine class!” - R.W