Aspen Yoga Studio - About Richard Bird

My intention is to provide a safe and grounded format for students to learn and develop a foundation in breath, postures and meditation so that you can use yoga as a means for vibrant health, well being and self discovery . . . for life!

My passion and love is practicing, teaching and writing about the enlivening and healing effects of yoga.

In 1987 after a brief career as an options and futures trader, and during my next career as a small advertising business owner, I began my study and practice of yoga, meditation and healing. Without yoga and mediation I doubt I would be alive today.

I have practiced and taught several styles of hatha yoga: Iyengar, Ashtanga, Power, Gentle and Forrest.  Studying several styles has helped me to experience and understand the different effects each style has on the body and how not to apply yoga.

Since 1996 I have taught over 6000 yoga classes and private sessions.

After experiencing pain and injuries from too much time in meditation and learning how and why not to do yoga, I returned to one of my original teachers, Ana Forrest, and trained in her style of Forrest Yoga.

During the first weekend of training my knees were healed and once again strong.  I have completed both the Forrest Foundation and Advanced Teacher Training. Since September 1999 I have taught Forrest yoga exclusively.

My greatest pleasures in teaching are the results my students experience.  It is rare if a new student comes to me without challenges, pain or injuries. I enjoy the interaction with students who are challenged, injured or just have a deep desire to learn. They show up for themselves and work and listen and get the aha' s, healing and releases.

Much of what I teach comes from the depth, realizations and understanding gained through my own personal journey, practice and study of 22 years.

I am a certified instructor of A Course In Light and the co-author of The LiteBodies Process: Becoming Your Perfect Weight & Body Balance, meditation processes for creating balance in your life and body. I lost 30 pounds in the first 10 weeks of studying "A Course In Light".

Outside of teaching yoga, meditation and healing I enjoy creating and marketing programs for self help and healing.  I also enjoy lots of time at the Beach (Jupiter, Florida) and riding my bicycle up steep hills (Medicine Bow in Brush Creek, Aspen).

My favorite sports are Tennis, Baseball, Football, Hockey and Golf all of which I played while growing up.

I attended the Pennsylvania State University and majored in Business Administration. My favorite subject was Economics because it was my first experience and exposure to the concept of "cause and effect".