Meet Kristi, the heart and soul of our Year of Giving
Kristi with daughter Ruby
Kristi Gunnarshaug, known for her kindness and generous spirit, is a beloved, longtime yoga instructor with Charym. She teaches Gentle Flow yoga classes, and coordinates Year of Giving, a program sponsored by Charym dedicated to raising funds for local Litchfield charities, and non-profit organizations.
Kristi discovered her love for yoga 25 years ago, during a dark time of her life. “At the time I was in the beginning throws of an eating disorder and would use exercise as a form of control and honestly a way to harm myself and get smaller.”
She entered her first yoga studio and quickly realized that there was so much more to yoga besides physical exercise. She was intrigued with the use of yoga as a healing modality.
“I was blessed with an instructor who had physical and mental strength that was palpable, who was comfortable in her skin and showed by example the beauty of ‘feeling’ the practice instead of ‘doing’ the practice. It wasn’t about the aesthetic or burning calories or even anything physical that I was drawn to…it was more the fact that I had a reprieve, even if momentary, from feeling unwelcome in my own skin. I felt allowance to take up space and to find out who I was, and felt permission to shine in my strength and glow in times of surrender and rest.”
A few years later, after seeking and receiving help for her eating disorder, Kristi fulfilled her calling and became a yoga instructor.
“I found teaching vinyasa flow yoga and creative on the spot sequencing was my practice of mindfulness. If I’m not there, mentally present, when I’m teaching, it just doesn’t work.”
Before the pandemic, Kristi co-owned and operated a yoga studio in Newtown, CT. She is pictured above with daughter, Ruby, during a time when she led “Mommy and Me” and Prenatal Yoga classes with the studio.
Today she continues to share her love for yoga with others in the studio, with private clients, online, in residential health facilities, and more, working with people of all ages, stages, and abilities.
“No matter where I’m teaching, or who I’m teaching, I always hope in my heart that the student feels that they too have permission to shine in their strength and glow in their surrender of rest. That they learn, see, feel, and believe that they are the facilitators of their own healing…. And I just feel so blessed to be witness to it.”
Through Year of Giving, Kristi seeks to foster a sense of community with donation-based yoga classes. It has been a dream of hers to raise funds and awareness for special causes, and to build up the community as they gather in unity and support. She sees this as part of her karmic practice.
“There’s no amount required, so it’s accessible for those that are financially restricted yet appreciate the practice of group yoga. I absolutely love teaching donation classes. I get so much joy out of it… it feels like a treat.”
You can join Kristi for Flow and Glow for a Cause, a class that is a part of Charym’s Year of Giving, offered at no charge. Register online, and bring cash and check donations of any size to class to benefit our charity of the month.
