Karoun Yoga, Springfield

The pressure was starting to get to Karoun Charkoudian, much like a teakettle when an entire family stares at it impatiently. She had completed grad school and was looking for a corporate gig, and this new phase in life was causing her a lot of confusion. But all of that went away when a friend brought her to a Bikram yoga class in 2003. There, she discovered newfound peace and clarity. In the years that followed, Karoun completed teacher training for several types of yoga, including Vinyasa flow and Iyengar, and became heavily influenced by the meditative movements of Chinese qi gong.

Now she shares her expertise within the bright green walls at Karoun Yoga. The intimate, modern studio is also home to other experienced instructors who approach yoga from the realms of fitness, rehabilitation, dance, and spirituality.