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 deepened 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.
In 2026 Carol was asked to lead a Sound Bath. A week after she bought her own set of 7 crystal sound bowls and started facilitating events monthly. Learn more about sound baths and upcoming events here.
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.
***I am taking a break from full time classes and subbing at the following locations.
NuPower Yoga and Barre
Heart & Light Yoga
3S Yoga Nashville
September Sub Schedule
Sound Baths
Sept 13, 4pm at NuPower Yoga and Barre Register Here
Sept 20,7pm at 3S Yoga Nashville – Donations to EastCAN – Register Here
Block Party: Support, Stability & Strength
Sept 18, 6-7:30pm Heart & Light Yoga Donelson/Hermitage – Register Here
Join the “Block Party: Support, Stability & Strength” workshop to explore the transformative use of yoga blocks in your practice. Learn to enhance alignment, build strength, and modify poses with blocks, regardless of your skill level. This hands-on experience is designed for everyone, promoting accessibility and creativity in yoga.
Public Yoga Classes
Sept 10 9:30 am Yin at NuPower Yoga and Barre
Sept 11 9 am Yoga Fundamentals at Heart & Light Yoga
Sept 11 10:30 am at Heart & Light Yoga
Sept 15 6:15 pm Dolly Flow at NuPower Yoga and Barre
Sept 16 8:15 am Dolly Flow at NuPower Yoga and Barre
Sept 25 9 am Yoga Fundamentals at Heart & Light Yoga
Sept 25 10:30 am at Heart & Light Yoga
Private yoga classes
Belle Meade Country Club
Core Focused Flow | Tuesdays | 8am
Inquire about scheduling a session or sound bath!
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.
Karma Yoga Nashville 