When did you start practicing yoga?  
I started practicing yoga in 1998.  I had several miscarriages and was told to try yoga.  My first class was a Bikram class and I fell in love.  I went to yoga everyday on my lunch hour. Two months after doing yoga everyday, I became pregnant again and was able to carry my first baby full term. I did not continue the Bikram class I was doing at the time because of the heat, but continued to do Rajashree's Pregnancy Yoga DVD everyday at home until I delivered. I then found Anusara yoga and then began to practice several other styles of yoga.  

What has yoga brought to your life?
Yoga has brought so many things to my life. It has helped me manage stress, and most of all to be a more positive, loving, compassionate, forgiving person. My purpose and passion is to teach and help others, inspire and share. At the end of the day, it is not about what you have or what you have accomplished, it is about who you have lifted up and helped to become a better person.  

Why did you become a yoga instructor?
I became a yoga instructor because I have been a fitness instructor since 1987 and as soon as I took a yoga class, I knew it was the one thing I had been missing.  I went through my 200 hour training and kid yoga was part of the curriculum, and I fell in love with the idea of teaching kid yoga. I then continued to get my 500 yoga training and I have been teaching adult and kid yoga ever since.  

What impact can a regular yoga practice have on a person's life? 
I know that when I practice yoga everyday I am more grounded, patient, forgiving, loving, humbled, compassionate person inside and out.  I remember to put emphasis on my heart.  I surround myself with positive people.  I have learned to believe in my own potential and my own goodness and teach others to do the same.

What advice would you give someone who is just starting yoga? 
Just show up to your mat. The rest will fall into place. Let go of any judgement, expectations, or competition.

What is unique about the style of yoga/barre that you teach? 
I teach a variety of different yoga styles, but while I like to teach and take physically challenging classes, I know that I must also take the classes that challenge me mentally and emotionally. I like to teach classes that focus on stimulating the chakras. These energy centers are located along the vertebrae from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. When these energy centers are stimulated, our bodies respond by allowing energy to flow freely, helping us bring balance and serenity into our lives. The goal is to find ways to build strength, and balance each of these energy centers on a regular basis through practice of yoga and meditation.

What is your favorite yoga posture to teach? 
My favorite yoga pose to do and teach is handstand. I go upside down almost every single day and love how it makes me feel. Coming from a fitness background, I love the benefits of handstand that include building upper body and core strength, increasing your balance, boosting your mood, bone health, circulation, and breathing, and improving your confidence.

Please share some words of wisdom or advice for your yogadownload.com yoga students.
Yoga truly is for all ages. I teach 3 years old and up. It is truly miraculous to see what yoga does for people of all ages. I am mesmerized by the benefits of yoga at even 3 years old. They are not afraid to make mistakes, they do not judge or compete, and truly do practice what I teach them on and off the mat according to their teachers and that makes me very happy. I love teaching children so much that I produced a kid yoga DVD called "What Color Is Your Butterfly? that can be seen on Yoga Download.  

Yoga is something you can do for a lifetime. It is the one practice that I know I will do for the rest of my life. I learn something new every time I step onto my mat. I love the energy in and around me before, during, and after my yoga practice. It truly has changed my life and the life of many others that I have taught. I see people all of the time that I have taught in the past that tell me that I am the reason that they do yoga and that makes me feel inspired to my core.

Please share your favorite quote.
"Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path... exactly where you are meant to be right now... And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love." ~ by Caroline Adams 

What do you like to do "off the mat"?
My absolute favorite thing in life to do is laugh. I honestly think that is one of the most important things in life.  My other favorite things are to workout, do yoga, and be with my family.  I love to be outside, hiking, golfing, playing tennis, and traveling. I love to move my body and love to teach others to do the same.

Carol is a certified group fitness, yoga, barre, and Stott Pilates mat instructor. She places emphasis on alignment, core control, and providing clear and concise direction so that her students are able to get the most out of their workout safely and effectively. 

Download or stream one of Carol's Barre or Kids Yoga classes now!