Bernie Koehrsen: Class Instructor
"One's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions."
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~ |
Yoga saved my life. I am here to teach you Yoga to welcome change to your own life.
For the early majority of my life, I suffered from chronic back pain and ulcers due to working jobs where I stood all day and moved heavy items. My only remedy at the time was to take Ibuprofen – the cause of the ulcers. My great fortune was when I met my first yoga instructor here in KC at that job where I stood all day long. She invited me to a new Yoga for Men class that she was teaching. I was almost instantly hooked! After several months of diligent struggle, I began to see the tremendous changes that Yoga Asana practice can unfold in your life. Rather than living completely disconnected (via deep insecurities) with my physical body, I was coming closer and closer into a deeper connection with it. As the old crusty shell of bad habits and limitations began to fall away, I knew I wanted more. On the path I was going with my life, I can guarantee you that I would not be here on this earth to even say hello to you. This practice challenged my physical body, but it also cracked open my inner world at the same time. I started physically feeling better due to my Asana practice, and my back pain completely disappeared. Just as one might peel the dry skin off of an onion, I had revealed to myself the bright layers waiting underneath. Being of endomorphic body type (a “large-framed guy”), I had always felt limited with things I could do, but the practice reveals that it is available to all of us. This is not a practice just for skinny gals in leotards, as some may think! I feel that I’m a perfect example of the fact that this is a practice that anyone can learn, benefit from, and enjoy. Over my 13+ years of practice, I have had the chance to work with some of the most well-known yoga teachers in the country: Rodney Yee, John Schumacher, John Friend, Ana Forrest, Brian Kest ... and the teachers who profoundly changed my life and practice: David Life and Sharron Gannon. I base my teaching loosely on the teaching style developed by David and Sharron, Jivamukti Yoga. My classes include brief meditation, light insight on Yoga philosophy during Asana practice, and guided deep relaxation. You will learn in my classes that we do not “do” Yoga – instead we do the combination of these practices in order for us to perhaps, if we are diligent, take a glimpse at the real experience of Yoga - the union with the divine and our true Self. I am truly blessed to be here at theGYMkc (formerly known as Scott Fitness) to share my experience of Yoga. I look forward to meeting many more of you in class soon and am thankful for so many that are devotees of the class! With great love and gratitude, Namaste, You can also learn more about my artistic side at www.burnknee.com. I am also a practicing artist and am represented locally by Blue Gallery in the Crossroads. ~ Bernie Koehrsen ~ |
