Emerge, Empower, Evolve

At Mud Flower Yoga, we celebrate the sometimes messy journey that brings us fully into our own power, grace, and beauty.

About me

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word, yuj, meaning “to yoke”, “to unite”, or “to join.” For me, my practice has evolved into a powerful union of my body and my breath, of my personal experience and my collective experience, of my power on the mat and my softness off the mat.

Yoga has, in so many ways, created a depth of fullness, richness, and steadiness in my life. I’ve felt my emergence into my own being and self; I’ve leaned into the empowerment of what it means to be fully present and uniquely embodied; and I continue to witness my own evolution with every passing season.

It has been humbling; it has been fascinating; it has been a blessing. As an instructor and a fellow seeker, I look forward to sharing yoga with you.

Trainings:

500 E-RYT
- 200 hour YTT @ Spotted Dog Yoga, Folsom, CA, Nick & Katie Clark)
- 300 hour YTT @ Leap Yoga, Folsom, CA, Karen Miscall-Bannon & Stacy Whittingham)
40 hours Ayurveda certification (Bliss, Body & Soul with Chara Caruthers)
40 hours Yoga for Athletes (The Institute of Yoga Sports Science)
20 hours Yoga Anatomy (Tiffany Cruikshank; Yoga International)

Trainings in Progress:

Yoga Student Training with Alexandria Crow of Yoga Physics
Deconstruct to Reconstruct with Alexandria Crow of Yoga Physics

Upcoming Trainings:

300 hour YTT Aligned Elements with Richelle Morgan of Tulum Yoga School

“For all others, faith, energy, mindfulness, integration, and wisdom form the path to realization” (Yoga Sutra I.20)

Sage Patanjali

Offerings and Workshops

I regularly teach at Radiant Yoga in El Dorado Hills, CA; Main Street Yoga in Placerville, CA; and Leap Yoga in Folsom, CA. My classes are playful, challenging, and grounding; there is space for you to feel the relationship between your body and your higher Self, therefore encouraging a personal aspect of your practice rather than a performative one. I hope to see you in class soon!

200-hour Aligned Elements Yoga Teacher Training

January 13, 2023 through April 30, 2023

Created and led by Richelle Morgan of Aligned Elements / Tulum Yoga School with me (Carissa) as co-lead. This training is hosted by Main Street Yoga of Placerville, California. See more information at www.yogadicha.com/placerville-ytt/

The Reading Yogi: Seeking Devotion, Finding Relationship

Beginning October 2, 2022

Co-hosted by myself and Holly Ashton Wallin and housed at Leap Yoga in Folsom, CA, this book club is designed to take you deeper into your own connection with and relationship to yoga. All information can be found at the The Reading Yogi website:

Coming Soon: Welcome to Yoga — Beginners’ Series

This month-long workshop is designed to welcome you on your yogic path. The first step onto your yoga mat is just that: A first step. After this, we experience the magic of building a solid foundation and becoming active participants in our own practice. Whether you are in your first month of practice or your first year, this class was made with you in mind. This beginners’ series seeks to provide you with not only the physical foundation for your asana, but also give you breath and meditation basics with some yoga philosophy sprinkled in.

Coming Soon: Sadhaka & Sadhana — Seeking Something More

Minutes melt into hours; these hours melt into days; the days to weeks, and so the story goes. It’s all too easy to find ourselves stuck in a groundhog’s day of wake up, do what must be done, and go to bed, just to repeat the cycle all over again the next morning. Adding new rituals, practices, or routines into your life might be what you need in order to move through the mundane and into something that both grounds and lightens you. If you are seeking something more, come learn about how you, as a sadhaka, can create a sadhana that is unique and special to you.

Coming Soon: Mindful Meditation & Movement

Feeling a little distracted by your busy life? Do the pieces of your day feel haphazardly stitched together? Do you go to bed at night wondering where the day went and how you moved from wake up to lay down? If so, you’re not alone. Let’s hit reset on these frenetic days with some mindful movement and meditation. This workshop will give you the tools to pause, breathe, move, meditate, and reflect with abundant mindfulness, radiant expression, and heartfelt joy.

Coming Soon: Yoga for Athletes Workshop

Feeling like something is missing in your current athletic profile? Our bodies are absolutely magnificent in their design to get faster, stronger, and sharper. However, the benefits of adding yoga postures (asana) and breath (pranayama) to your regular practice can take you to the next level and help you achieve the perfect balance of sthira (steadiness) and sukha (ease). This class is suited for all fitness and athletic levels; come ready to move, breathe, and feel into the supple strength of your body.

Stories and Musings

There is magic to be had when thoughts and words combine

Forged in the Fire

I am afraid of fire. So much so, in fact, that I

Elevated & (Re)Aligned

Sometimes studying, practicing, and engaging in yoga feels like being insatiably thirsty

How to Find & Seek Change

One of my favorite games to play as we sit down and

Love Notes

I love Carissa. Her class is a perfect start to the day! Carissa is always warm and welcoming. Her classes are thoughtfully planned out, ensuring that my body is sufficiently warmed up before introducing a flow. It is a total body workout (body, mind, and heart). As a working professional, I find Carissa’s classes to be a recharge for my soul, giving me energy and purpose to go out and make a difference

Alison L.

A few years ago, I found yoga and began a journey that has transformed my life. I have spent the last four summers traveling inwards and taking various yoga trainings. During this time, I have also been fortunate enough to begin some of my days guided in my journey by Carissa Drummond. Carissa truly is one of the best travel guides if your goal is to deepen your practice. She enriches my heart journey every time I practice with her. Effortlessly, she offers insight into the mechanics of each body’s unique anatomy in a way that is deeply rooted in tradition. Her knowledge and experience emanate from her heart and each class takes us breath by breath through the eight limbs as she weaves a story in a perfect flow of energetic alignment, mudra, philosophy, movement, and stillness. Much as travel opens our eyes to the world, Carissa opens the eyes of the soul. When I leave Carissa’s class at 7 AM, I am a much better version of myself, more apt not to react when someone cuts me off in traffic, more likely to great my family with patience, and more fully able to appreciate the bounty in my life.

Jenny G.

Carissa Drummond has been my go-to yoga instructor for the last several years. I am so incredibly grateful for her and the energy she brings to my local yoga studio. Carissa’s routines are both effective and original, and she clearly dedicates a considerable amount of time preparing and researching new and exiting ways to tone and strengthen our bodies. She brings a professionalism above and beyond any other instructor I know that makes want to keep coming back to her class. Not only is she a talented and inspiring instructor, she is also a beautiful and deeply spiritual person whose calm positivity spreads infectiously to everyone she interacts with. Carissa has definitely helped me take my yoga practice to new levels.

Katie M.

Carissa offers you a challenging well rounded class each time. She has you moving and balancing in ways you never thought you could. Each class is breathtaking. I love how she demonstrates and talks us through the posture. Best part of Carissa’s class is the smile on the classes face knowing we faced our challenge for the day with 💯!!

Annette S.

Carissa’s yoga instruction allows me to stay present. She uses words that are guiding and gently urging to help me stay focused and grounded as I move through my practice. Her enthusiasm and dedication to yoga is reflected in her voice and class elements which keep me connected and returning for more.

Lisa J.

Carissa is an amazing teacher. She creates a safe space to challenge yourself and let go. Her classes are always changing. They have a great range of asanas and postures that not only help align you energetically, but give you an amazing workout experience. She cares about her students. Her classes have helped me through many dark times in my life. Healing will happen when you practice with Carissa ♥️

Tierney E.

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