Karma Yoga Nashville

Carol jane Buttenham

2024 – YTT 300hr
2020 – YTT 200hr

Carol’s first yoga class was a lesson in balance, literally. While working as a musician onboard cruise ships from 2000-2003, she learned the basic postures. After moving to Nashville, Carol continued her journey, learning from a variety of teachers of various styles and traditions including Vinyasa flow, Iyengar, Hot 26, Restorative, Kundalini, Baptiste Power, Viniyoga and Hatha yoga. Her practice deepended and became even more beneficial when she was diagnosed with a rare balance disorder called Mal De Debarquement Syndrome (MDDS).

Carol didn’t plan to be a yoga teacher but after 19 years of practice she was encouraged by friends and teachers to attend training. Carol was turning 50, and was looking for something to be passionate about. She found it on her first weekend in 200 hour teacher training at Liberation Nashville. At Liberation she was introduced to Viniyoga. A tradition rooted in ancient Indian texts, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and founded by T.K.V. Desikachar, the son of Śri Krishnamacharya.

In 2025 Carol became a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) taking her 300 hour training with Linda Fenlon (NuPower Yoga and Barre) Raquel Bueno (Liberation Yoga) and Leah Kaplan (Thunderbolt Ayurveda). She has also received certifications in Yin, REWIND’s Boomer/Senior, Mat/Chair Yoga, and Trauma Sensitive Yoga.

When she’s not on her mat Carol loves to sing and play in a band with her husband Ben Blankenship, gardening, reading, travelling to places near and far, spending time with friends and family and dancing!

Carol’s goal is to encourage and inspire everyBODY regardless of background or experience, to journey through the Eight Limb Path of Yoga together and to take what we learn off the mat and into our communities. Carol’s classes incorporate asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork), meditation, and accessible introductions to yoga philosophy.

Yoga Classes

Public yoga classes

Private yoga classes

Belle Meade Country Club
Hatha Yoga | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 8am

I love Carol’s Monday class. Good for the soul and the body! Lauren Bufferd, Nashville, Tennessee.

Carol is genuine in her practice and her Sunday class reflects that. Always a welcoming environment to practice with gentle guidance and wonderfully relaxing mediation to end the hour. I am always the better for attending. Jennifer Clarke-Brophy, Waterdown, Ontario.

I’ve noticed much greater strength and range of motion after taking weekly chair yoga lessons with Carol. I have mobility issues and use a chair much of the time and even though the positions in our class feel gentle, they are deep and definitely have an effect. I feel I’ve made this progress because Carol is such a caring, perceptive teacher. She always seems to know the right exercises I need for a particular day and has my safety and comfort in mind at all times. She truly cares about people like me with mobility issues, understanding my limitations but being gently encouraging as well. I am so fortunate to have had classes with her, because I’ve never felt yoga was so tailor-made to me before now! Deanna Larson, Nashville, TN.

Contact carol