Johnny Stuhr

“Hare Om, Shanti – Peace be to all! My name is Johnny Stuhr. I’m a native of Charleston, S.C. I am currently employed as a Harbor Pilot where I drive commercial cargo ships into and out of the port of Charleston. I began practicing Hatha Yoga in the year 2000. My first taste of any form of asana (physical postures) class came through Bikram Yoga. After experimenting with this style, I began exploring other styles of yoga asana including Anusara, Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Kundalini, and Yin Yoga. All forms were equally powerful and my physical body began to heal and grow in ways I never imagined. However, on a much deeper level, the beginning stages of a relationship with my inherent intelligence had begun. Within a few years, my “inner being” had established a connection with the mind making it aware that yoga is more than trying to put my foot behind my head or stand on my hands. Unique emotional sensations evolved throughout my organism causing me to question yoga as the ego’s identification with form. Through this exploration, I found myself at the Nosara Yoga Institute looking to deepen my understanding of these sensations. In November of 2007, I participated in the 200-hour yoga teacher certification program where my understanding of this relationship with my organism became more clear. Through this connection, I realized that yoga is not a state of existence or a point of attainment. Instead, yoga is action taken by an individual that helps him/her develop a relationship with the divine, a relationship that’s unique to him/her. It is this connection that empowers all beings and links us all together. Shortly after graduating from NYI, my best friend and I built a donation only yoga studio where we could help facilitate other people’s experience of what yoga means to them. Yoga has changed my life and allowed me to connect with my true being. As a result, I live in a much more peaceful way with myself; and when I find myself in an altered state, say one of anger, yoga gives me a way to reconnect to my truth. My desire to teach is to make people aware of this connection so that they too can experience peace.”

Love and Gratitude,
Johnny