The Blue Crew
Karin Fellman
E-RYT 1500 YACEP “Do your best not your most.” -Karin
Karin is an entrepreneur, a visionary and the owner and creator of Blue Buddha.
Karin has dedicated close to twenty five years helping yogis see their own greatness.
Certified in five different lineages of yoga, Karin has over 17,000 teaching hours and 1500 hours in Advanced Certified Yoga Trainings, studying alongside some of the most influential Yoga Gurus of our time.
January 2004 Bikram’s Yoga College of India’s Teacher Training -Bikram Choudhury
March 2007 Structural Yoga Therapy Training -Mukunda Stiles
July 2012 Created, Founded and opened Hot Yoga University
October 2014 Amrit Method, Yoga Nidra training -Kamini Desai Ph.D.
October 2015 Yoga Masters Immersion training -Kamini Desai PhD – Gurudev Amrit Desai
October 2015 Kids Yoga Nidra Training with Renu Zagoria
January 2018 Kundalini Research Institute six month Aquarian Yoga Teacher Training -Jaap Kaur Khalsa and Sangeet Kaur Khalsa Sound Healing training, Symphonic Gong and Singing bowls
March 2019 Yin Intensive with Paul Grilley
Karin is grateful for each experience.
One of the Valley’s most well-loved, honest-to-goodness and respected yoga teachers. Her radiant style and whole hearted approach to life keeps her students coming back for more.
She has taught over 15,000 yoga classes, guiding hundreds of thousands of yogis through their yoga practice in the Scottsdale and Tempe area.
Karin’s passion to serve others in a bigger way came true in 2012 when she created and founded her first studio Hot Yoga University.
She also created an evolutionary Integrative Hatha Yoga System. That system along with her deep healing 60-minute hatha session forever changed the way hot yoga is practiced in the valley!
She sold the studio in 2020, to one of her yoga students.
And embarked on a one-year sabbatical, re-emerging in 2021 awakened, free and ready to begin again.
Blue Buddha is the wake up! Yogis can now can enjoy an upgrade to her deep-healing 60 minute Hatha, receiving even more benefits of her Integrative System.
Greg
RYT 200 Over the course of his life, Greg has lived in six countries and a num ber of states. He moved to the Valley in 2017, after nineteen years in the Seattle area.
Greg was a long distance runner for decades. He turned to yoga to help repair injuries and strengthen underused muscles. It didn’t take long before he became hooked and developed a daily practice.
In 2018, he became a RYT200 yoga teacher. Greg is a big believer in the physical benefits yoga can bring to your life; no matter how often you practice. The hour you spend taking care of your body is also time for the mind to rest and let go.
2021 Reiki Master certification 2022 Yin Yoga Certification
A proud father of two sons, Greg enjoys backcountry hiking and taking his son’s dogs, Mela and Pesto, to the park.
Greg recently became a pet owner adopting a recue dog named Camino. They are having fun getting to know each other and going on their own adventures too!
He looks forward to meeting and leading you through your practice and to build community/family at Blue Buddha Collective.
Yumi
RYT 200 Yumi loves adventure and holistic living! She is a former Muay Thai boxing competitor. She discovered Yoga as part of the low impact training. She fell in love with its mind and body connection right away.
In 2018, she completed the 200 hr. Yoga teacher training in the jungles of Costa Rica. She was surrounded by monkeys, sloths, bugs and the beautiful ocean.
Yumi made a big transition from a 20-year finance career to pursue her passion – serving others and community as a Life Journey Guide. She utilizes Yoga as an effective life journey tool, to reset and transform her clients’ life, along with eastern philosophy, meditation, energy work, gardening, shinrin yoku (forest bathing), Muay Thai boxing, fitness, happy eating, and smart finance.
“Being a part of the Blue Buddha family is a manifestation of a long-time dream – building a compassionate community. Looking forward to connecting and guiding you, yogis!”
Jenny
RYT 200 Hi I’m Jenny, an ex-Elementary school teacher now stay-at-home mom, who found Yoga Nidra on a whim. I left my first Yoga Nidra class feeling blissful and “yogi high” as they say. I was totally relaxed and refreshed from my experience. From then on I was hooked on the practice.
I studied I AM Yoga Nidra under Kamini Desai.
It was through this experience that I learned how therapeutic and transformative Yoga Nidra can be. I feel so honored to be able to share this with others in our community.
Outside of class I love being mama bear to two beautiful girls, cooking, music, seeing new places, and visiting with friends.
I look forward to guiding you through your practice.
Layla
RYT 200
Hello Blue Buddha Community! My name is Layla and I have been practicing yoga since 2014. I initially started yoga because I was intrigued by the postures.
Yoga has been a healing practice for me to manage depression and anxiety and work through trauma.
Yoga has the opportunity to provide healing, discovery and self-love. I believe yoga is a sustainable physical, mental, and spiritual practice for everyone to benefit from and I hope to help others develop a consistent practice too..
I also currently freelance, teaching private yoga classes; thereby creating an inclusive teaching environment to help students gain confidence within themselves in their physical practice. I also integrate the importance of breathwork and teach them how to breathe as that is what really yoga is about.
I recently became a Reiki master and I am excited to incorporate the teachings into my classes. My background is in public health and I work as an epidemiologist when I am not teaching yoga.
In my free time I enjoy relaxing with a delectable cup of coffee, going on taco runs, and exploring Arizona hiking trails. I can’t wait to guide you through your practice and look forward to meeting each and every one of you!
Tina
RYT 200 I began my hot yoga journey over twenty years ago to compliment an active lifestyle. Originally from Arizona, I grew up an avid hiker, biker, and swimmer.
Channeling my inner desire to help others I became a yoga, Pilates and barre instructor. My experience and knowledge allows me to meet students right where they are and to see their true potential.
In my free time I enjoy paddle boarding, playing with my dogs and watching the moon.
I look forward to seeing you on your mat very soon!
Diana
RYT 200 Hi I’m Diana and I’ve been practicing yoga since 2008. I truly believes in all of the mental and physical benefits of yoga. I am a Certified Amrit Yoga Nidra Facilitator, training under Dr. Kamini Desai.
I love teaching to all ages and teaching kids yoga too. My specialty is sleep-based meditation-Yoga Nidra.
When I’m not teaching, I love to travel, do crafts, write, cook or hang with friends, family and my rescue pup Tilly.
Abi
RYT 200 Hello I’m Abi and from Flagstaff Arizona. I moved to Scottsdale two years ago. What I love most about yoga is that it is unique to each persons mind and body. When I’m not enjoying yoga, I am a student at Arizona State University studying Cellular Biology and Genetics.. I also enjoy traveling, hiking and all things Arizona!
I am looking forward to seeing everyone on their mats at the Blue!
Ashley
RYT 200 Hi I’m Ashley! I was born and raised in Minnesota and moved the desert in 2005. I began my yoga practice in 2012 and became a yoga teacher in 2018.
I am a proud wife and mother of twins and fur mama to an adorable dog and two precious cats.
My passion lies with the Hatha practice in particular, I also loves Yin, Kundalini yoga and Yoga Nidra.
I am an experienced yoga teacher and have guided classes from 7-70 yogis. I love that yoga brings people together, sharing energy and looking to improve the world by looking within first.
I am a coffee addict and love dirty chai lattes, cappuccinos and cold brew!
I am honored to all who trust in me to guide them through their practice. I cant wait t see everyone on their mat and to be a part of this Big Buddhaful community!
Indira
RYT 200 Hi my name is Indira. I am a passionate healer and teacher. My journey with meditation started at the age of five as a tool to help me overcome childhood trauma. It has impacted my life in the best way possible and given me the gift of the journey to self.
As I became older my curiosity and continuing healing journey led me to different modalities. My journey with Yoga started in 2015 after falling in love with sound healing and being introduced to my first Kundalini Yoga class. This fueled my passion into the wellness industry and I never looked back. Over the years I have accumulated multiple certifications in wellness.
I am a certified 200 HR Kundalini Yoga Teacher and also specialize in Yoga Nidra, Sound Healing, Restorative Yoga, Reiki and Breathe Therapy. Each modality is a form of meditation and can be used to find stillness in the midst of chaos.Meditation doesn’t require hours of our day but simply minutes of time in which we are truly able to be present.
My intention is to provide a safe and sacred space for you to journey within and meet your inner healer.
Ian
RYT 200 Hello Blue Buddha Family,
I am Ian Youngblood and this is my boy Kinje Blù Youngblood. I have been practicing yoga for well over 10 years and have enjoyed every little bit of it. You’ll find in my classes, as well as in my practice, I am about the breath. The breath is our life force. Yet many people go throughout their lives paying no mind to this beautiful thing we call breathing.
I challenge you to take a deep conscious breath each and everyday!
Kinje and I will see you in the studio.
Riley
RYT 200 Hi I’m Riley. I am from New York, I moved to Tempe Arizona four years ago to go to college at Arizona State University. On top of being a Yoga Teacher, I am also certified in Personal Training, Nutrition, and Reiki.
Throughout my fitness journey I learned that it’s not just about working out and eating healthy. Our bodies are very complex and there is a lot more that comes into play.
I believe that health and happiness is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit.
My goal is to help you become a better version of yourself. You are worthy and deserving of living your best life.
I am beyond excited to be apart of the Blue Buddha Community. I am looking forward to seeing your beautiful faces.
Sammy
RYT-200 Hi my name is Samantha and I’m a yoga addict. I began my yoga practice in 2012 and immediately was hooked. Within months, I went to teacher training and became certified to teach and went on to do so for four years.
In 2017, I decided to take a break from teaching, but continued to explore and deepen my connection to a power greater than myself. Through many spiritual techniques such as tracking the moon cycle, working with the chakras, tantric yoga practices, and Goddess worship and ritual, I experienced kundalini rising & spiritual awakenings that granted me a deeper understanding of myself.
In 2020 I began a journey of personal recovery, seeking to turn my will and life over to my God, to overcome past trauma, and to pursue deeper serenity in my life. Yoga means to join the finite self to the infinite self through breath, meditation and asana. Yoga is one of my daily disciplines of connecting to God that I am honored and thrilled to share with you. I look forward to seeing you on your mat!
RYT200 is a lifelong learner and was drawn to yoga not only for its physical benefits, but also for the impact it has on a student’s mental and holistic wellbeing, connecting the ancient healing practice with the modern world.
Mak
Hi I’m Mak! I grew up in Arizona and have lived in Scottsdale for 8 years. I was fortunate enough to start my yoga journey when I was 14. My mom and her friends had started going to hot yoga classes raving about what a great workout it was. I tagged along one day and had an absolute blast!
Being a former gymnast and dancer I thought it was so fun and challenging moving from pose to pose like a little dance. Flash forward to my early 20s, I was feeling very stagnant physically and emotionally. I found a hot yoga studio nearby and really started to delve into my practice. I quickly realized that, for me, the mental benefits of yoga really surpassed the physical and my practice has helped me tremendously through many struggles I’ve faced.
I knew I wanted to be able to share this feeling with others and decided to pursue teaching. I firmly believe that yoga is for everyone and I’m very passionate about showing new students that yoga can work for them!
I’m a mommy to the sweetest boy that I adore and spend most of my time just staring at him but when I have a moment of free time my fiancé and I always head to the movie theater, so if you need any movie recommendations I’m your gal! I also love going to arcades, finding good hole in the wall restaurants, and hanging out with my pups Dinky, and Quentin (yes, after Quentin Tarantino). I hope to see you on your mat soon!
Nikki
RYT200 is a lifelong learner and was drawn to yoga not only for its physical benefits, but also for the impact it has on a student’s mental and holistic wellbeing, connecting the ancient healing practice with the modern world.
Nikki is a 200 RYT, with a lineage in Ashtanga. She loves the creative aspect to building fun, unique sequences that focus on the connection between breath and movement. She is passionate in cultivating an environment that is safe and accessible to all, believing that yoga truly is for everyBODY.
Nikki has spent over a decade in the corporate learning environment, specializing in leadership and executive development, where she continues to bring value to the Arizona community. She is a certified brain-based coach and compliments the neuroscience of a person’s development with her background in yoga teaching. When she is not in the office or on the mat, you can find her traveling the world, exploring new places and cultures with her husband and two kids OR upside down – practicing her lifelong goal of being able to do a handstand!
Raquel
Raquel embarked on her transformative journey with Kundalini Yoga in 2019 after a health issue led her to realize the importance of self-care and the need to prioritize her well-being to avoid falling prey to illness. Kundalini Yoga, a technology and yoga of awareness, helped her to delve deeper into her inner self, and began to notice certain patterns that were no longer serving her.
As she implemented her daily practice, she began to operate from a state of calm and peace which enabled her to see things from different perspectives and speak her truth with more confidence. Unexpectedly, she began to notice physical changes in her body as she tapped into her internal medicine cabinet through conscious breath.
Driven by her transformative experience (and now science), Raquel desires to share the peace and optimal state of being with as many humans as possible. She believes that Kundalini Yoga is not just a physical practice but a way of life that allows us to access our inner power and potential.