blue osa yoga teacher John Thurman

John Thurman

John Thurman, is a Washington, DC based yoga instructor who teaches vinyasa flow power yoga classes. He teaches in a style that focuses on providing a challenging and fun environment for all levels of students to learn and practice their yoga asana. John believes in encouraging students to find their boundaries and mindfully push their limits. Focusing on breath, posture and gaze, John helps guide students through their practice in a thoughtful manner that helps them grow on their own path. The best students on the mats are those that put forth their best effort each practice and John tries to bring that out in every student.

He has been personally practicing yoga since 2001, and his training includes exposure to Rocket, Iyengar, restorative, and vinyasa style asanas, as well as pranayama and mediation. His physical background includes football, triathlons, weight lifting, high-intensity training, and running. John has completed Mimi Rieger’s 200-hour Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in Washington, DC, as well as a 50-hour Rocket Yoga training at Asta Yoga Studio, San Francisco, CA. Additionally, he has taken his 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training from Flow Yoga Center in Washington, DC. He has studied with Mimi Rieger, Bryan Kest, David Kyle, Dharma Mittra, Aaron Star, Kristen Krash, HawaH Kasat, Sharron Gannon, David Swenson, Rene´ Henley, and Steven Pyka. John is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) with Yoga Alliance. John is also Reiki Level 1 trained.

John is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He received his master’s degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. John completed a 20-year career as Military Policeman and Operations Research Analyst with the U.S. Army serving in worldwide deployments. He also worked as a cost analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (OSD CAPE) at the Pentagon.

John’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (4), Army Commendation Medal (3), Joint Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award (2), Korean Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with the campaign stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award.

John teaches with Yogi Aaron in the 14-Day Immersion.

Teaching methodology + practicum

  • Learn how to lead and market successful yoga retreats
  • Learn the principles of demonstration, observation, assisting/correcting, and instruction.

  • Learn different teaching styles.

  • You’ll learn specific techniques that will enable you to easily teach all levels

  • You’ll also learn how to sequence your asanas to create a natural, therapeutic and transformative arcs in your classes

  • Learn the qualities of effective teaching

  • Learn the business aspects of being a yoga teacher and gain the building blocks of how to build a thriving yoga career

Development of the Professional Essentials

History, Philosophy + Ethics

  • Identify your spiritual stance so you can step into it as a source of strength
  • Identify walls and develop strategies to take them down
  • Create a support network and support strategies and have them in place when you leave
  • Complete a physical and spiritual adventure challenge
  • Learn the business aspects of building a thriving yoga career
  • How to bring the practice of yoga into your everyday life and make it work for you
  • The science and application of mantra
  • An overview of the history of the yoga tradition
  • The ethical standards of teaching yoga

Yoga Humanities

Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™

  • Receive training in Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ training for Yoga Teachers
  • Go further in your anatomy training
  • Learn how to access muscle function
  • How to sequence transformational yoga classes
  • Learn the energetic and deeper sublime effects of asana
  • The science and application of Mantra
  • Design classes based on Ayurvedic principles
  • Knowledge of both human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.) and energy anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.).

Anatomy & Physiology

Techniques, Training and Practice

  • A breakdown in the anatomical and energetic categories of postures
  • Develop a daily meditation practice
  • Learn pranayamas, kriyas, chanting, mantra, meditation, and other traditional yoga techniques
  • How to sequence and structure transformational 60 and 90-minute classes
  • Practical experience teaching postures, classes, and meditation
  • Learn deep relaxation techniques
  • Yoga Nidra, as taught by the Himalayan tradition and Western tradition
  • Learn how to conduct and lead fire rituals
  • Kundalini Yoga techniques
  • Learn the subtle energetic aspects of yoga like the Koshas and chakras
  • Kriya Yoga and Laya Yoga

Advance Your Own Practice in Yoga

Techniques, Training and Practice

  • A breakdown in the anatomical and energetic categories of postures
  • Develop a daily meditation practice
  • Learn techniques in pranayamas, kriyas, chanting, mantra, meditation, and other traditional yoga techniques
  • How to structure and sequence transformational classes
  • Practical experience in teaching postures, sequencing, and meditation
  • Learn deep relaxation and meditation techniques that come from the Himalayan tradition

Develop a Rock Solid Practice in Yoga

Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™

  • Receive training in Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ training for Yoga Teachers
  • Develop an understanding of basic anatomy
  • Learn about muscle function and how to improve it (something you will not learn in any other YTT)
  • Knowledge of both human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.) and energy anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.)
  • The study of both the subject and application of its principles to yoga practice (benefits, contraindications, healthy movement patterns)
  • Skills to teach yoga classes suited to all levels of practice.

Anatomy & Physiology

History, Philosophy + Ethics

  • An in-depth study and application of the Yoga Sutra
  • How to bring the practice of yoga into your everyday life and make it work for you
  • The science and application of mantra
  • An overview of the history of the yoga tradition
  • The ethical standards of teaching yoga

Yoga Humanities

Teaching methodology + practicum

Get hands-on practice teaching so that you’ll be able to teach on day one after the training is finished. You will:

  • Practice teaching in small and large groups

  • Be ready to teach yoga as soon as you leave the yoga teacher training

  • Get hands-on experience teaching and give/receive feedback

  • Practice assisting students

  • Learn the principles of demonstration, observation, assisting/correcting and instruction

  • Learn different teaching styles

  • Learn qualities of effective teaching and adjust to the student’s process of learning

  • Learn the business aspects of how to build a thriving yoga career

Development of the Professional Essentials