Kristin Butterfield, RYT
In my “prior life “ I was a Physical Therapist for over 1
0 years, a group fitness instructor for over 20 years, and a hard core exercise junkie for as long as I can remember. My career as a Physical Therapist was extremely rewarding as it allowed me to combine my passion for health and fitness with my fascination and respect for anatomy, biomechanics, and the art of healing. Unfortunately I applied very little of this knowledge to myself. I lived the typical over scheduled, frantic life of a hard working, hard playing professional, wife, and mother. My deluded mind-set was that I could juggle at least 100 things, all at once, without compromise, and without dropping a single ball. In 2008 a serious hip injury changed everything. I like to say it was a divine knock over the head with a very heavy cosmic 2X4 that could not be ignored. I could now no longer exercise as I had, play as I had, or even work as I had. My “charge headlong through life, full steam ahead” days were over, changed my lifestyle, but also my definition of myself. If I was no longer the can do anything, hard core, super fit gal, who was I? Yoga helped me answer the question.
After my injury I turned to yoga with the intention of healing my outer physical body, but unexpectedly found healing, transformation, evolution for my inner body. Simply put, my hip lead me into my heart. With my eyes finally opened wide I could’t get enough of the magic of yoga, and so employed my typical 110% full steam ahead approach and enrolled in Sherry Schreck’s Anusara Immersion and Teacher Training at The Willows. The experience was amazing. With Sherry’s beautiful and inspired guidance I was able to connect to the deep well of stillness and peace within me. Yoga grounded me, inspired me, balanced me, and helped me to grow more than I ever would have imagined. It has helped me to become a better person, mother, and wife. It has taught me to smile not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. This is why I practice yoga, and this is why I teach.
"I know how easy it is to get caught up in the manic busyness of life – so much so that life actually becomes one big blur. Yoga clarifies, slows, filters, steadies, and grounds. This is what I have found, and this is what I want for my students. Through yoga my intention is that my students connect to the place of deep blissful peace within themselves, and from that place find balanced action in life. I believe if we take the wisdom we gain on our mats out into the world, our lives will become better for it. The deep insight of John Friend’s Anusara Alignment principle “inner body bright” says it all – as we connect within, we allow the Truth of who we are to light us up from the inside out, to shine out into the world, and light it up as well. Om Namah Shivaya.." --- Kristen Butterfield
As well as teaching yoga, Kristin also uses her experience as a Physical Therapist to teach Anatomy and Therapeutics for Sherry’s Shakti Lila and Anusara Immersions. She continues to actively pursue her love of yoga and thirst for knowledge by taking continuing education workshops with Anusara certified teachers such as John Friend, Desire Rumbaugh, Martin Kirk, Keny Graham, Sianna Sherman, and others.