Quest Yoga Studio

Karen Kenney has been a dedicated yoga student for over 15 years and a full time yoga teacher since 2001. She grew up in Lawrence, MA. When she was 12 years old, her mother was murdered. This heartbreaking loss ignited a quest for truth, peace and nonviolence – that gradually but inevitably led her to yoga.

She was introduced to yoga in 1988 when she was a sophomore in college at Boston University. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles where she became a personal trainer and played Women’s Baseball for coach Mike Boyd (brother of Red Sox pitcher – Oil Can Boyd).

In 1994, while in LA, Karen stumbled across the book, A Return to Love by best selling-author and lecturer, Marianne Williamson. The teachings in Marianne’s book, which are reflections on A Course in Miracles, opened a door to profound healing, compassion and forgiveness. A few years later, Karen was blessed to live and work closely with Marianne, who became her spiritual “mom” and mentor.

Karen explored yoga on her own through books and various classes until 1996, when she traveled to Egypt with Marianne on a spiritual pilgrimage. Marianne’s yoga teacher was also on the trip and Karen was invited to practice with her. They rolled out their mats right across from the Great Pyramids of Giza. The dynamic energy of mystical Egypt combined with the postures, breath and meditation was one of the most powerful experiences of her life. Both Marianne and A Course in Miracles continue to deeply inform Karen’s yoga practice and inspire her teaching.

In 1998, Karen returned to the East Coast. In early 2001, she received her yoga teacher certification from the Kripalu Center. She founded Quest Yoga in January 2003. She went on to do her teacher training in the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson and has also completed Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Avantika Waleryszak.

Karen has been called a “Spiritual Catalyst”. Her teaching style is warm and down to earth – her classes are infused with joy, intention, devotion to the Divine and a sense of humor. Her classes and workshops are deeply rooted in this one simple belief: Teach Only Love – For That is What You Are. She is passionate about encouraging others to play, to be curious, to move beyond their limited thinking and to ultimately trust themselves. Through her guidance of courage, compassion, possibility and faith, she inspires students to choose love over fear, to celebrate their own unique gifts and to honor the teacher that resides within their own heart. In Karen’s classes serenity, strength and spirit become one.

Karen has been a presenter at Wanderlust Vermont and the Boston Yoga & Chant Fest.

Karen has created yoga classes for some of NH’s most talented and dedicated athletes. Her popular Yoga for Athletes classes were originally designed for her friend, Ironman Triathlete – Sean Snow and his S2 Coaching clients. She is the yoga teacher for the Manchester Monarchs Hockey Team and continues to share the benefits of yoga with athletes from all over NH.

Karen is certified in Thai Yoga and has studied extensively with Shai Plonski, founder of the Still Light Centre in Toronto and also with Kam Thye Chow, founder of the Lotus Palm School. She’s assisted Thai Yoga Massage Trainings at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY and is a Reiki practitioner.

Karen is the creator and host of “The Yoga Show with Karen” on ConcordTV. For the past ten years, The Yoga Show has brought free yoga into the homes of over 15,000 local residents, businesses and institutions in Concord, NH.

She is also a motivational speaker, published author and a member of the New Hampshire Writer’s Project. She has studied with Barbara Abercrombie,  Nancy Slonim Aronie, Natalie Goldberg, Mel Allen and Mary Carroll Moore. Karen is currently working on a memoir.

Karen is an animal lover/vegan and a passionate supporter of animal rights. Knowing that all beings deserve the right and have a desire to live happily and free from cruelty and suffering.

Always a student, Karen continues her yoga education by attending classes, workshops and teacher trainings whenever possible. She’s had the opportunity to learn from many teachers from diverse backgrounds and traditions including: the beloved Sri Dharma Mittra whose grace and compassion has forever changed her, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy, Devarshi Steven Hartman, Kathryn Budig, Natasha Rizopoulos and the many gifted teachers at Kripalu, Omega and in the NH Yoga Community.

Karen has been deeply influenced by Swami Kripalu, her meditation teacher Eknath Easwaran and Marianne Williamson. Swami Kripalu’s devotion to love and compassion, Easwaran’s 8 Point Program of  Passage Meditation and his three volume translation on the Bhagavad Gita and especially, Marianne’s teachings and her reflections on A Course in Miracles, have profoundly shaped her as a yoga teacher, mentor and human being.

She is deeply grateful for the women that took her under their maternal and spiritual wings along the way. “Miss” Kae LeFebre, Marianne Williamson, Daphne Rose Kingma, Rev. Stephanie Rutt and Sarah Lovett. Having lost her mother as a young girl, these women have played a huge role in shaping Karen’s life. She would not be the same without the support, grace, kindness, love and occasional ass-kicking from these amazing “moms”, mentors and friends.

Priscilla ~ “Patti” ~ My Mom

Kimba – My Mom – KK