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

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.

“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.”

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

1) Tibetan Spine Flexibility Set - this five-pose set works various parts of the upper body. The pose that Kurt would like to use is what is commonly known as the Table pose, but in Kurt’s APY60 system, it’s part of the Tibetan Spine Flexibility Set. Sit on the floor with your lefts straight out in front of you and tuck your feet about 12 inches apart. Place your palms on the floor next to your body and tuck your chin against your chest. Then drop your head backward as far as it will go. At the same time, raise your body so that the knees bend while the arms remain straight and tense your muscles. Let muscles relax as you return to original sitting position.

2) Single Leg Chair Pose – This pose works the legs and gluteus. Start standing straight up with your arms at your sides. Bend your knees so that your thighs are as parallel to the floor as possible. When balance has been achieved, raise one leg up (in a seated angle) and then cross the ankle onto the other leg. Bend knee downward and extend arms. Repeat with other leg.

3) Chi Gung – also called the Ab Vacuum, Chi Gung works the core of your body. It is a breathing exercise with fluid bodily movements to improve balance, strength and flexibility.

4) Tan Tien Breathing – Kurt will also explain this breathing technique that he uses for his yoga classes.

==ABOUT FREE DAY OF YOGA==
Since the event’s inception in 2007, more than 17,000 students have joined in the DFW Free Day of Yoga to experience the physical, spiritual, emotional and mental benefits of practicing yoga. Free classes have been offered at over 170 participating studios in communities reaching from Midlothian to Rockwall, from Denton to Waxahachie and all points in between.

With that said and 2011 half way in the bag, we are finishing strong! In this newsletter alone I am proud to announce the availability of APY60, a dream come true for me. I have also had the honor to train Jayme and Sage daily in the traditional Lightening Fire Mountain Strength set and in APY Martial. (FYI Jayme has decreased her body fat by 5% in just 6 weeks.) And last week I got to share APY Martial with you! We are anxious to finish negotiating our new lease to expand our studio and our plans for APY OnDemand are moving forward nicely! It hasn’t come easy but it is coming.

At the end of this month I get to share the amazing experience that is Burning Man with Jayme. Then it is on to Labor Day weekend and the National Free Day of Yoga which I will be co-hosting the DFW kick off event.

As we approach the end of the year we can not thank you enough for your continued support. December 10, 2011 marks our 10th year in business and trust me, we will celebrate! But we have to thank you, our APY Family for allowing us to do what we love the most. You have enriched our lives and we are dedicated to being the best we can be for you.

Much love,

Kurt & The APY Staff

Read more

Sometimes life is fast, sometimes slow, sometimes you must be very strong, sometimes very flexible; APY Martial is designed to give you the ability to embrace it all!

Classes are an hour and just as APY are open to all levels! In APY Martial you will develop strength, speed, poise, balance and will power that you might not had known is possible. I have pulled effective techniques from kung fu, jiu jitsu, tai chi, Thai kicking boxing and more!

If you are ready for a change and ready for a challenge APY Martial is ready for you!

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