Manitou Yoga School presents its first class of graduates

Manitou Yoga School's first graduating classManitou Springs celebrated a first on May 27, 2012: the graduation of 15 yoga teachers from the newly established Manitou Yoga School. The school was founded and directed by Manitou resident and yoga teacher Joy Vernon.

“Stepping into the role of yoga school instructor has been deeply rewarding. It has pulled something out of me that I didn’t know was there,” Vernon said. “I loved seeing people grow, not only in their yoga practice, but spiritually, being with people who have the same desire to learn and help others. The coolest thing is watching students experience those ‘aha’ moments, the look on their faces.”

Brian Kleiner, the school’s assistant director, agreed. “I feel excited that we are able to present such a dynamic program to the students. We teach anatomy, philosophy and neurology in great detail. I mainly taught the philosophy segment, which included the Bhagavad Gita, the yoga sutras and chanting. Sometimes I felt as if I was the student and in the process, I was learning, too.”

Manitou Yoga teachers (left to right): Joy Vernon, Brian Kleiner, Georgi GochisGuest instructors Georgi Gochis presented segments on the brain and science, and Adam Vernon taught a section on business for yoga teachers.The graduating class was comprised of all levels of life, including three Manitou High School students, all of whom have taken two or more semesters of high school yoga classes with Vernon. A registered nurse, several wellness consultants, a professional musician, a high school counselor and an airline pilot also graduated. One student even moved to Manitou Springs from Denver just for the teacher training. All students are now certified by the Yoga Alliance.

Two hundred hours of intensive study contained segments on: anatomy and physiology, teaching methodology, philosophy, ethics and lifestyle (emphasizing Ayurvedic medicine and the triune brain), techniques (asana, pranayama, meditation, chanting), practicum, and non-contact hours, including seva (selfless service).

Students stayed for a day and a half at the Shoshoni Ashram in Rollinsville, Colorado, which provided an invigorating and inspiring culmination of the two-month course. The stay included hatha yoga practice, chanting and meditation, discourse by Guru Gita, satsang and pranayama.

Without exception, all 15 graduates expressed profound learning experiences they will take with them. One student hoped his future students will “cultivate awareness of their bodies and awareness of their surroundings and to come to the experience they are not separate from life.”

One graduate wants to be a part of seeing “something as ancient and powerful as yoga spreading across the nation,” and as a teacher hopes to be a “signpost on the great path to enlightenment.”

“I’m stoked!” said one enthusiastic young student, who also graduated from Manitou High School the same weekend. He had a tough time just picking one thing he enjoyed most about his training, but loved the closeness and community of the group, teachers included. “At times we cried, laughed, oil massaged and cooked together, all just amazing.”

Another student said, “I have received the best training that suits my soul. This experience has allowed me to begin to understand myself and my purpose - to heal.”   

In addition to the study of yoga, classmates learned trust building and relationship development. One student summed up her experience, “Never be too afraid to jump into something new. It’s scary and unknown, but the outcome is always amazing. I best explained my experience to my family as my own art form, using my body, mind and soul as a mixed media to create something within that everyone could see with every smile and laugh I shared.”

Classes were held at Phoenix Yoga Lounge, owned by Manitou Yoga teacher Patrick Campo, Ruxton Avenue, Manitou Springs. Fall yoga teacher classes begin Sept. 18; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Jan King Garverick was health editor for Springs Magazine for eight years before its close, and a freelance contributor to the Colorado Springs Business Journal and the Independent. She has published two books, Self Healing Dynamics and When the Ground Falls Away. Her daughter Nicole and son-in-law Will reside nearby in Colorado Springs, and daughter Trina lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.