Karen is a New Jersey native and has lived in Colorado Springs, CO and Fairbanks, AK. She moved to La Manzanilla, Mexico in 2010, and is happy to make this her permanent home with Omar and their many Yoga Cats as well as a few Yoga Dogs.

For more than 30 years the practice of yoga has been a part of Karen’s life in one form or another; starting as a supplement to an active lifestyle into being that lifestyle. She uses the term Living Your Yoga and what that means is to discover the body, mind, heart, spirit connection and live from that space. To live and act with kindness and joy and compassion in all you do. Practice gratitude and forgiveness, in yourself and others. And, her hope is that classes will help you live your yoga today and every day.

Karen is a 200-EYT (Experienced Yoga Teacher) in Hatha Yoga earning her certification in 2009 from Lahiri School of Yoga in Colorado Springs and is a member of Yoga Alliance with a CEU (continuing education unit) designation. She enhanced her original training with a 100-hour course Baptiste Power Vinyasa Level 1 and also became a Certified ThethaHealer and Reflexologist.

She established Bending Tree Yoga and Healing Center in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico in 2011 to promote her vision of Living Your Yoga. Bending Tree started on a rooftop and has moved to an open-sky ground-level studio, where you can practice in nature and experience sweet Yoga Cat moments as Yoga Cats frequent the studio during class. All Yoga Cats are rescues from the area. Over the years each cat has come to her by one circumstance or another and has now formed an animal oasis and sanctuary that incorporates the studio earning studio nickname — Bending Tree Yoga with Cats! 💙🐾😸💚🌟