Meet Larissa

Larissa Hall Carlson, M.A. in Mindfulness Studies, E-RYT 500, is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist, End-of-Life Doula, Yee Yoga teacher, Prenatal Yoga teacher, Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Director, and senior Kripalu Center faculty member.

She is co-director of Yoga Journal's online courses "Ayurveda 101" and “Ayurveda 201,” the former Education Manager of Kripalu's Institute for Extraordinary Living, and the former Dean of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda.

Larissa leads transformative, empowering, and inspiring workshops, retreats, and trainings around the world. She is known for her exceptional knowledge of yoga and Ayurveda, deep practice, and professionalism.

Larissa is passionate about encouraging all people to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature through the time-honored teachings of yoga, Ayurveda, and Mindfulness.

Regularly presenting at Yoga Journal Live events, Ahimsa Festival, and Wanderlust, Larissa has been featured in Yoga Journal, Shape, Men’s Journal, The Washington Post, More, Elephant Journal, Spirituality & Health, InStyle, NY Yoga + Life Magazine, Origins, Mantra Magazine, Yoganonymous, Prevention, MindBodyGreen, and Dr. Oz: The Good Life.

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One of Larissa’s specialties is teaching **yoga and mindfulness to elite performers**.

For over a decade, she worked in partnership with the musicians and performers of Tanglewood Music Center to help alleviate performance anxiety and stress and to enhance skillfulness and performance excellence.
She has also taught yoga, meditation, breath-work, and yogic philosophy at the Juilliard School, Boston Conservatory, Berkshire Opera Company, Cleveland Institute of Music, Western Illinois University School of Music, and the Nashville Ballet, as well as to students at Harvard, Princeton, Lawrenceville, Burr & Burton Academy, and Emma Willard.

As trauma-informed faculty member for the Kripalu Schools of Yoga & Ayurveda…

she currently directs **advanced yoga teacher trainings** specializing in pranayama and the ayurvedic approach to yoga, and is a 200-hr and 500-hr Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training director.
Larissa **teaches** **Ayurvedic history & philosophy, clinicals, pulse assessment**, **pranayama, meditation and mentoring** for the Ayurvedic Health Counselor training. Larissa can also be found directing in other renowned YTTs around the world.

Although Larissa loves living in New England, she takes great joy in traveling to teach.

Some of her favorite international teaching locations have been Japan, Costa Rica, India, and New Zealand.

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As a life-long, extremely dedicated, and passionate student, Larissa has studied with some of the world’s most distinguished, knowledgeable, and esteemed teachers of yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda.

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She thanks and honors each of her teachers individually and collectively for their wisdom and generosity, including:

→ Rodney Yee
→ Colleen Saidman Yee
→ Richard Rosen
→ Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
→ Shiva Rea
→ Suzanne Deason
→ Thich Nhat Hanh
→ Jon Kabat-Zinn
→ Jack Kornfield
→ Sharon Salzberg

→ Lama Surya Das
→ Stephen Cope
→ Jonathan Foust
→ Tara Brach
→ Yoganand Michael Carroll
→ Scott Blossom
→ Matt Pesendian
→ Emma Balnaves
→ Zhander Remete

Larissa is also indebted to and humbled by her Ayurveda teachers, in the USA and India, who have so graciously shared their knowledge and love, including:

→ Dr. Robert Svoboda
→ Dr. Vasant Lad
→ Dr. David Frawley
→ Dr. Claudia Welch
→ Dr. Scott Blossom
→ Dr. John Douillard
→ Dr. Sunil Joshi
→ Dr. Avinash Lele

→ Dr. Partab Chauhan
→ Dr. Jay Apte
→ Dr. Rosy Mann
→ Dr. Jyothi Bhatt
→ Dr. Anusha Sehgal
→ Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa

“As a teacher for over 25 years (first Literature, then yoga, Ayurveda, and Mindfulness)…

I have thought deeply about the role of the teachers in my life and how these beloved teachers have helped shape, inspire, and elevate my practice and my capacity to become a more skillful teacher myself.

Words cannot fully honor what they have offered to me, but their generosity, expertise, thoughtfulness, and love have been felt, and I carry every one of them with me as I enter any classroom. On their capable and strong shoulders I stand and I strive to honor them by teaching my students with clarity, integrity, kindness, respect, precision, and the knowledge gained from my own unique explorations of the practices.”

“…let her practice with earnestness and faith, according to the method taught by the teacher." - Siva Samhita

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Named one of the “100 Trailblazers in Yoga and Ayurveda” by Spirituality & Health Magazine

Testimonials

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"Larissa is that special teacher who truly embodies mindfulness, pranayama, and yoga as a way of life.

She openly shares her steady dedication to her own practice as a way to both live beautifully and navigate life’s challenges, which inspires me to regularly commit to my own practice. The open-heartedness and acceptance I feel from her has allowed me to explore and heal some of the deepest parts of myself while feeling tenderly protected. I feel fortunate to have found such a special teacher."

— Claudia G., Massachusetts, Ayurvedic Health Counselor

"Larissa’s grace and depth of wisdom for yoga and mindfulness are felt in all her offerings, in-person and online.

With her vast knowledge and expertise in these fields, she’s taught me simple yet powerful pranayama and meditation techniques that helped me through a challenging transition in my life. I continue to study with Larissa online because of her accessible teaching style and calming presence. She inspires me to dive deeper into mindfulness practices and teaches me how to incorporate them into my daily life."

— Rebecca R., Connecticut. E-RYT-500 Yoga Instructor

“Larissa's skillful and expert Ayurveda, yoga, and pranayama consultations have had profound and lasting impacts on my vitality and wellness.

The most striking impression I have about Larissa's offerings, is her non-judgmental and compassionate delivery of wisdom to address unique needs. I feel most blessed and grateful for her guidance on my transformation journey.”

— Aimee R., Massachusetts. RYT-500 Yoga Instructor

"With Larissa, it’s more than just technique, because what she imparts is grounded in a thorough awareness of both the history and philosophy of meditative practice.

I have taken some great yoga and meditation classes with Larissa, but it was in a seminar about how proper breath control can enhance public performance that she really spoke to me. Among other breathing techniques, she taught me nadi shodhana (alternate-nostril breathing), and I have used it ever since when needing to ground myself and help place my voice when getting ready for rehearsal, auditioning, or before going onstage or in front of the camera. She’s the real deal."

— Tony N.B., New York. Actor

"Larissa teaches with clarity and passion, making the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda approachable and experiential through body practice.

I am grateful for how her teachings empower me to choose what makes me balanced and nourished, while influencing how I teach yoga to fit the needs of the students based on different seasonal energies here in Japan. I love how Larissa brings Ayurveda and yoga together--she has greatly influenced how I teach.

— Chami N., Japan. E-RYT 500 Yoga Instructor

"I consider myself very lucky to have discovered Larissa's teachings at the beginning of my Ayurveda journey.

We spent several months doing 1:1 Zoom consultations; her incredible knowledge on everything from theory & principles, to lifestyle, herbs, dosha-balancing foods, and especially yoga now form the foundation of my own approach to living this ancient system of health & medicine. I first contacted Larissa during a difficult time when feeling quite off-balance. By the time our package sessions concluded, I noticed a definite and positive shift! I consider myself lucky to work with her and I look forward to continuing."

— Adam S., New York, NY. Yogi and Natural Medicine Practitioner

"Larissa's guidance and support during our quarterly consultations was amazing and deepened my love of Ayurveda.

We added in self-care practices, which were not only manageable, but so beneficial to my health and well-being. Our sessions have cultivated my Ayurvedic lifestyle and hold me accountable for taking care of myself. I am so grateful."

— Kristina P., Pennsylvania. Ayurvedic Health Counselor

“Larissa's Ayurveda consulting sessions are filled with wisdom, practical advice, and compassion for her clients.

In our 1:1 sessions, she skillfully provided physical, mental, and emotional exercises that made the world of difference in my well-being. I continue to refer back to her helpful advice and insight in my daily life, and am so grateful for her coaching.”

— Carol B., Virginia. RYT-200 Yoga Instructor

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