My Story
My name is Carol Schoonhoven. I was born in 1991 in Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia.
I am a professional violinist and a graduate of the Music Conservatory of Ibagué. For the past 10 years, I’ve been teaching music—Violin, Guitar, Ukulele, Viola, and Piano—here in the British Virgin Islands. I also teach Spanish and am a certified Early Education Montessori teacher.
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I’ve been living in the BVI since 2008 and I am the owner of Carol’s Spanish Lessons and Music Services as well as Pura Vida Yoga BVI.
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I launched Pura Vida Yoga BVI in 2022 after completing my 200H YTT at Nexus Yoga Institute in Nosara, Costa Rica. Through my practice, I love offering bespoke yoga and wellness experiences throughout the BVI. My programs are designed to support overall wellbeing, encourage mindfulness, and help you feel your best. In October 2025, I also had the incredible experience of completing my 500H YTT in Rishikesh, India—an immersive and deeply transformative journey that expanded my knowledge, strengthened my practice, and renewed my passion for sharing yoga with others.
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I enjoy developing my meditation practice, traveling, exploring different cultures, philosophies, and religions, practicing yoga daily, reading, watching episodes of Friends, and spending time outdoors—especially watching the sunrise or sunset. I’m also learning to surf and love sharing positive vibes on social media. One of my favorite things is taking long walks on the beach with my dogs, Chiwi and Charlie, who bring so much joy into my life.
Hope to see you on the mat! xx
Education & Certifications
♥ Graduated from Conservatory of Tolima in 2009 as a Professional Violinist
♥ Certified Early Childhood Education Montessori Teacher from the North America Montessori Center
♥ 200h Yoga Teacher Training Nexus Yoga Institute Costa Rica 2022
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♥ 300h Yoga Teacher Training, Rishikesh, India 2025
Be sure to check out my interview in Virgin Islands Magazine, where I open up about my life in the beautiful British Virgin Islands and share insights from my personal journey with mental health.
My Journey
I moved to the British Virgin Islands with my family when I was 18 years old. I fell in love with this magical place and made it my home. I was married for seven years and went through a painful divorce in 2023. Navigating the grief and emotional weight of that experience wasn’t easy, but therapy, yoga, and meditation became lifelines for me. These practices helped me reconnect with myself, rediscover joy, and cultivate self-love, self-worth, and a deep sense of inner peace. They've been essential in my healing journey, and I now feel truly at home within myself. I’m passionate about sharing these tools with others, they’ve brought me back to happiness, and I believe they can do the same for anyone seeking healing and transformation.
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♥ Carol
Selflove
Be brave enough to take off the masks you wear out there and get to know who you are underneath. Be vulnerable enough to accept your flaws and know that they are what make you human; they are what make you real. Be confident enough to accept and cherish your strengths. Don't minimize them or hide them... They are your beautiful gifts to share with the world. Be brave enough to say, you know what, all of this is who I am. I make so many mistakes. I can be forgetful, I am messy. But... I am doing my best with what I've got. And I am so proud of that. I am so proud of me. And I am proud of who I am becoming.
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- Nikki Banas
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.
John Kabat-Zinn