APY Local debuts

APY has such a strong loyal community and most everyone wants to hire someone they know, so we thought it would be a great idea to add a page to our website that advertises services that APY members offer.  The only folks who can advertise are APY members who have been with us consistently for over a year, and it’s free!

To participate please send an email to our webmaster, <a href=”mailto: marni@gotogetch.com&subject=APY Local”>marni@gotogetch.com</a> with the following information:

• your name
• a photo of you, your products, your logo, whatever you want
• the year you became a member
• a brief description of your services
• company name
• website address

That’s it! This is just our way to give back to our members, who play such a vital role in the success of APY.  We are forever grateful.

See you in class!

Jayme Bushmiaer & Kurt Johnsen

New Studio…soon!

Yes we are getting close! American Power Yoga 3.0 was painted over the weekend thanks to a few helpful hands! Doug Davis, Leanora Leo Leavell, Todd Daugherty, Jasen Sparacino, John and Rebecca, Roger, Jackson Mj, Joe Giardano and Jayme Bushmiaer and anyone else I’m forgetting! It is huge and looking awesome! Ever forward!

New for 2012!

The studio renovation is coming along! Please keep the good vibes flowing. A newly expanded studio means, new offerings…or as we like to call it, The APY Method.

The APY Method

The fact is most of us need a variety of exercise regiments for optimal fitness results; slow steady, high intensity, strength training, to name a few. The APY Method is a revolutionary fitness method designed to create healthy happy humans by combining the most effective training methods intertwined in a lifestyle philosophy. This combined collection of classes will assist all in living healthier and ultimately happier lives.

Read more about the new classes and view our schedule here.

Peace, Love, and APY Yoga: SMU Daily Mustang

by Logan May | ljmay@smu.edu | December 5, 2011 | View source

“Breathe. This is the one hour out of your day that you can be completely in control.”

A tall, lean man paces the area of the small, dimly lit room. Yoga mats are sporadically placed in three rows. Women and men breathe deeply as they stand tall like tree stumps with their hands together palm to palm. The instruction inhales. “In your nose, out your mouth,” the instructor repeats to the class. The faint sounds of upbeat songs play in the background of the yoga studio. Water bottles and towels cover what would be empty space on the hardwood floor.

Kurt Johnsen, founder of American Power Yoga (APY), began his yoga journey when his mother died of a sudden heart attack. As he stood in the hospital with his sister, they began to meditate. It was then and there that Johnsen found his calling. He combined several yoga practices with the idea that our minds are our greatest tool. “We are in charge of our happiness, he says. “Peace comes from within.”

The room is filled with a spectrum of yogis: beginners, like myself, who can barely touch their toes, all the way to experts who can stand on their heads. I decided, instead of simply watching Johnsen in action, I wanted to discover for myself the challenge of APY. I was in way over my head. (No joke intended.)

“Let’s begin with our legs wide, our shoulders down, and our hands high,” Johnsen says. “Heck, why not do a handstand while you’re at it.” The class mimics his action. What is different from Kurt’s class than any other class out there? Humor. Johnsen knows that most of the participants in his open-level classes are beginners with little experience. He keeps a positive outlook and constantly reminds the class that it is okay to fail. In fact, he wants his class to fail. “Without failure, we cannot see what we can truly accomplish,” he says.

Now, I know what you must be thinking. Check out this guy, just another tree hugging, peace loving, and organic eating yoga instructor. Before I took one of Kurt’s classes, this was also my general perception of yoga instructors. I was more than pleasantly surprised when I left the hour session. The people surrounding me in the class were laughing, having a good time, and genuinely enjoying the experience of yoga. Too often it seems that we find ourselves with creases in our brows and stern looks on our faces from the stresses of life. “No one is bad at yoga,” Johnsen says. “You just have to try.”

“Once you find a studio that you love with instructors that really care about you, it just feels right,” says Mike Jackson, APY assistant studio director.

Mike had never taken a yoga class in his life until Kurt’s wife introduced him to APY. “It’s an experience I will never forget,” Jackson says. He started his first yoga class the way most beginners do: shaky knees, unsteady breaths, and defeated pride. He insists that Kurt Johnsen’s style of teaching will change non-believers into dedicated yogis.

As I struggle to hold a warrior’s pose in the middle of class, Kurt gently straightens my arms for me and pats me on the back. He never points out anyone’s flaws and he invests his time into each person. “You’ve got it,” he says. “Smile! You’re doing yoga!” Glancing around the room, the energy is contagious. The sweat pours like crazy. The 85-degree room is not for the faint of heart. “Everyone wants to do their best because Kurt brings out the best in us,” Jackson says. His presence at the beginning of class is the exact same at the end of class.

“I got addicted to yoga because of his class,” Karine Carrier, APY yoga instructor says. “This is the best place on Earth.” Carrier began practicing yoga a few years ago but felt unfulfilled and incompetent after each class. Determined to find a great studio, she made her way to APY and never looked back. “This is yoga that anyone can do,” she says.

Kurt consistently offers modifications as well as intensifications for each pose. His goal is for everyone to push it to the limit, and see if they fail or not. “If you fail, that’s okay,” he says. “And if you succeed, man, that rocks.”

The hour-long class seems like only a few minutes long. The structured breathing rhythm designed for the class grantees extreme focus on each pose. Each movement is fluid so that transitioning from one pose to another is natural.

Then begins the meditative stage of the class. The dim lights are now pitch black. The only sound is the deep inhales and exhales. Each person lies on his back, in total relaxation. This is Kurt’s real time to shine. He slowly and quietly speaks. His words flow together so eloquently and straight from his heart. He encourages each person to take away the stress they have. For most, stress is like a leach. It drains you and just doesn’t seem to go away. Just breath. Keep your focus on the good in your life. Deep inhales and exhales.

He ended the class with this: “How will you leave here today? Be kind, be generous, be calm,” he says. “Love you guys.”

New 8-week class: APY Martial Training

APY Martial is coming to the Dallas Studio!
January 9 – March 3, 2012
 
Class Times
Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Saturdays 9:15-10:15 a.m.
 
The APY Martial Training Camp is an 8-week program designed to safely share powerful martial conditioning with effective and real world self-defense techniques. Martial artists are known for their mastery of movement both physically and through life. APY Martial provides a blend of power and grace, speed and control, yin and yang. Each class is lead by Kurt and assisted by Sage and Jayme. All equipment needed is provided by APY. Space is limited to 50 sign ups. First come, first serve. If needed we will add more times. For more information and to register click here!

Morning Yoga Moves

Published : Monday, 05 Sep 2011, 11:21 AM CDT | Read more on myFOXdfw.com

Yoga Instructor Kurt Johnsen of American Power Yoga has some great poses and stretches to work out the kinks after you get out of bed! Learn more about www.dfwfreedayofyoga.com.

Morning Yoga Moves: MyFoxDFW.com

APY Life: August 2011

To be honest this year has been….resistant. Sure every year has it’s challenges however some just seem to fight you every step of the way. However as I take a glance at this newsletter I can see that even though this year has been a bit of an uphill battle we are making tremendous strides. As usual I am reminded of my training.
Sometimes my training comes easier, but when it’s the toughest is the most important time to continue. It’s not how you start, it’s if you finish.

APY Martial at Glencoe Park!

Tuesday & Thursday during the month of August, join us for APY Martial–the next level of yoga training. After all yoga is designed to give you the strength to control your body and energy. APY Martial is designed to take that ability into any situation and if necessary control of others bodies and energies.

D Magazine describes American Power Yoga

If you’re craving something powerful yet mindful, practice yoga with Kurt Johnsen, the founder of American Power Yoga. Kurt incorporates his martial arts experience to create a yoga-kickass hybrid.

Source: http://directory.dmagazine.com/beauty/American-Power-Yoga/23000

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