Carolyn’s first encounter with yoga practice was during a Buddhist retreat in Thailand where she was serving in the Peace Corps, 1987-1989. Three days into retreat, studying and meditating primarily on the mind and breath, the participants were given a choice to do either Tai Chi or yoga asana. Carolyn chose asana and after experiencing a few poses she had an epiphany: a sudden complete perception of what it is to be sentient in human form. Without a doubt, Carolyn knew she would study yoga. But living in a rural community in Northern Thailand in 1988 learning yoga was practically impossible. Alone with a couple of books Carolyn learned the first essential yoga lesson: Yoga is a mind-to-mind practice.
Carolyn Christie-Irvine
Home from Thailand, Carolyn headed to study at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco in 1989. She Worked at the Sierra Club and led bicycle trips with Backroads Touring Company. In 1993 she moved to New York City where she continued studying yoga at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York. Carolyn started teaching at the Institute in 1995. In 1996 she made her first visit to Pune, India to study with the Iyengar family. Fast forward 30 years (yikes!) to 2025, Carolyn is a Senior Iyengar Yoga instructor, teaching in NYC and upstate New York. She and her husband bought a farm in Bovina, Delaware County. They have built a unique open-air yoga pavilion and welcome yoga students to come for yoga weekends.
Carolyn regularly travels to India to study Iyengar Yoga and the Buddha dharma. Since 1988 Carolyn’s spiritual path has always been the study and practice of yoga with the study and practice of Buddhism. BKS Iyengar often said and always demonstrated that yoga is for all humans regardless of their beliefs. He also said the only belief necessary to do yoga is to believe one is conscious. Carolyn continues to study with many Buddhist and Iyengar yoga teachers. She is grateful to them for all their patience, generosity, and showing her the way to make and take a path toward freedom.