MEET KARSON
Karson St. John McGinley is a performing artist, teacher, and founder of Happy-U (a Holistic Approach to Positive Psychology & Yoga), which took up residence in Ocean Beach, San Diego for six years. As the owner of Happy-U Yoga, Karson led twelve yoga teacher trainings, certifying hundreds teachers all over the world, in her unique blend of Hatha, Vinyasa, and Anusara Elements™ classes combined with principles of Positive Psychology.
Feeling a call to have more flexibility and time with her family, Karson sold the brick-and-mortar studio in January of 2019 in favor of bringing her teachings online. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she was perfectly poised to amp up her virtual offerings to go 100% online via the Happiness & Bliss Virtual Yoga Kula.
As folks returned to practicing in person, Karson returned to teaching private and small group classes in San Diego and around Southern California.
As of January 1, 2025, Karson and her family relocated to Madrid, Spain, where she now works as the VP of Marketing for Boutique Fitness Broker (founded by her husband Mitch), where they help studio owners achieve their dreams as they buy, grow, and sell their businesses
Karson is a E-500-RYT with Yoga Alliance, has additional certifications in Prenatal Yoga, and Anusara Elements, and is a Registered Continuing Education Provider. She trained with Robin Christ for her second 200-hr Anusara® certification and earned her 300-hr Advanced certification with Shraddha School of Yoga in Temecula, CA.
Karson has appeared as a guest teacher at the Wanderlust Yoga Festival, Rancho La Puerta, and the Chopra Center, and was a two-time lululemon ambassador.
Karson is also a passionate performer and teacher at heart, and has merged her love of embodied movement and leading others through performing arts, yoga & community leadership for the past two decades. Karson is the recipient of the Craig Noel Award for Lead Performance in a Musical, as well as Lead Performance in a Play, and has received several nominations from the San Diego Critics Circle Awards. Karson has had the privilege of working at such theatres as La Jolla Playhouse, Cygnet Theatre, Diversionary, ion theatre, San Diego Rep, New Village Arts, Moxie, & Lamb’s Players. After a 10 year hiatus from the stage to focus on her growing family, Karson recently returned to the stage to reprise her award-winning role as the Emcee in Cygnet Theatre’s production of Cabaret.
Interested in working with Karson?
Her classes are inspired by the teachings of Classical & Tantrik yogic philosophy, Positive Psychology, and teachings from authors like Mel Robbins, Byron Katie, & Julia Cameron. Be sure to check out Karson's vast collection of virtual offerings that are available online.
By sharing spiritual themes, scientific research, and anecdotal evidence, she makes the practice of authentic yoga accessible and relevant to everyone.
Her style? Fun, free, and empowering.
Classes are deep, light, and inspirational.
Karson currently lives in Madrid, Spain with her husband Mitch, and two children, Chase (11) & Siena (8).
