About
John L. Thurman is a Lewes, Delaware 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, and is also a Reiki (霊気) Master. He is a faculty member of both Mimi Rieger and Aaron Star’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs.
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.
Offerings
Classes
Power Yoga
Primarily based on Ashtanga Yoga, this challenging practice incorporates Sun Salutations, standing postures, arm balances, core work, a seated series and inversions with a keen focus on the breath. Students will build heat in the body while cultivating stamina, endurance and emphasizing personal growth in their practice. Be prepared for a vigorous and fun class.
Open to all students, expect a mixed levels class.
Rocket Yoga
An intense, vigorous, set sequence based on Ashtanga Yoga, The Rocket was created by It’s Yoga, Larry Schultz, to get your desired results faster. Postures taken from the Ashtanga Primary Series in Rocket 1 are then incorporated with more advanced asana from the Second and Third Ashtanga Series in Rocket 2 and 3. Expect a strong standing series, incorporating arm balances and inversions followed by a seated postures followed by backbends, handstands and the Ashtanga finishing series. More intermediate to advanced postures will be offered. John received his Rocket training from Asta Yoga Studio in San Francisco, CA.
Open to all levels, a fundamental knowledge of yoga strongly encouraged.
Vinyasa Yoga
This practice links asana and breath together in a seamless and continuous movement integrating creativity and fluid transitions. A fluid flow joining standing balances, hip opening and core work are the foundational postures in this practice. Classes are accessible to all levels and offer variations with alignment-based cues incorporating powerful yet graceful movements.
Open to all levels.
Athletic Yoga
This interdisciplinary practice incorporates both Power Yoga and light free-weights to produce a vigorous, sweat-inducing workout. The practice begins with sun salutations, followed by a heat-inducing standing balance sequence utilizing free weights, core mat exercises, and finally a cooling and relaxing closing sequence, to produce a full body and mind experience.
WORKSHOP
Men’s Yoga Workshop: Shoulders, Hamstrings & Hips
The goal of this men’s yoga workshop is to teach active men the many benefits of a cooling, supplemental yoga practice to their otherwise active lifestyles. This practice seeks to supplement, rather than replace your workout routine. It is thoughtfully designed and sequenced to promote an opening of the major joints and tight hamstring muscles, which will both increase mobility and flexibility and improve awareness of one’s posture, radically increasing the efficacy of your physical training regimen.
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
Project Management
John's 20-year background in the US Army and as an Office of the Secretary of Defense civilian has given him a rich and deep background in project management. Combined with John's yoga training, you can request assistance with managing retreats, workshops, teach trainings, Yoga Alliance school compliance, and teacher training manual design and production. Additional services available include newsletter design and management, social media assistance, and music playlists.
Private Sessions
Reiki Sessions
John is trained to give Reiki, 霊気, and is available for private sessions. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Contact John on the form below to schedule a session.
Yoga
John is available for private yoga sessions one-on-one or in very small groups. He is also available to teach at non-public events such as for business seminars, corporate yoga, pre-wedding sessions, or weekend retreats.
Weekly Class Schedule
MONDAY 9AM - Yoga Class - Midway Motion and Fitness
TUESDAY 10AM - Power Vinyasa Class - Rehoboth Massage and Alignment Studio - TEXT TO RESERVE A SPACE
WEDNESDAY 10AM - Yoga Class - Midway Motion and Fitness
THURSDAY 4PM - Power Vinyasa Class - Rehoboth Massage and Alignment Studio - TEXT TO RESERVE A SPACE
Here is the link to my playlists available on Apple Music! Click through the Apple Music Profile link, and then find the playlist you are looking for. The months are when I created the playlist. Feel free to ask in class which list I played if you are looking to enjoy it during your self practice or just to jam to.
Below is a recording of a Yoga Nidra session that is available for free for your personal use. Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation that is a powerful way to learn to relax. Its benefits include physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Additionally, some practitioners find it is worth 4-5 hours worth of sleep. Some also use the breathing techniques to learn to help them relax and fall asleep. In a raja yoga practice, one of the limbs is pratyahara also known as inner withdrawal of the senses. Yoga Nidra is one way to practice this which becomes a transformative way to increase concentration and helps lead to samadhi. I hope you find this recording helpful. You can listen directly from the block below, or you can use the SoundCloud link to listen offline or download to your own device. Please feel free to share this recording, this gift of Yoga Nidra.
Washington Post Article from April 10, 2015: Warrior Pose — One way to help veterans with PTSD? Lots of yoga.
CNN "Vital Signs", Interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and video of my Pentagon class.
Click for link to CNN: PART 1 PART 2
Walter Reed Medical Center, Human Performance Research Center's video on "Challenge Yoga with Weights"
Veteran Stories Video || How Yoga Healed An Army Veteran
Power Yoga Introduction - Connect Breathing & Movement
Sun Salutes “How to” handout - Click HERE
Hamstrings Yoga Class - Click HERE
From the March 11, 2015 Northwest Current Newspaper, Washington, DC
Contact John
Whether you're a seasoned yogi, or just starting out, people of all athletic abilities can benefit from yoga training.
If you'd like more info about upcoming classes, if you'd like a personalized training, or need help with administration of your yoga program, drop me a line today!