See what the Pranava Yoga Center Community has to say.
Mike,
Just a quick fan note to tell you how much I appreciated your class yesterday. I've felt a little distant from my practice lately, and your class was so fun, challenging and inspiring, it's given me a lot to chew on moving forward. So, thanks. I'll definitely drop by whenever I'm in town! My best, -MG (11/26/2011)
Hi Mike!
Not only did I looooooove every minute of your class on Saturday, but I wanted to let you know that I was very inspired by your personal story about becoming a teacher, the 8 limbs, and the journey and courage it takes to live what you are teaching. I loved your story about quitting smoking, and it hits home with changes I have and continue to take for myself and my students. I have always lived sort of a "double existance" with health, yoga, and beauty on one plane, while on the other plane there have been a lot of dark places with substance abuse and unhealthy behavior. Over the past few years I have been able to let go of the old patterns and really embrace this great life for all that it can be. I still have a few things that I have been working on and your words saturday really gave me what I needed to take the final steps I need to. Thank you Mike for your amazing energy and friendship. I look forward to seeing you soon!
In love, gratitude, and radiant light
H
Mike,
Thanks for your email. I so enjoyed meeting you and Charlotte and practicing at Pranava. What a wonderful place you have. I will definitely be back as much as I can when in the Springs.
Having Natasha decide to come to your class Friday was pretty much icing on the cake for my New Year. Yoga asana and breathing, plus the people we meet during practice, are truly wonderful things to share with your children. Having her get to take a class from you was really cool because you are especially engaging and fun; I know I learned a lot from you.
I’ll hope to see you soon and in the meantime I’ll remember to breathe while I breathe!
Tracy
Hi all,
This is Kurry, Mary's friend from CA. I wanted to pass along my gratitude...you both were so gracious when I visited during Thanksgiving. I really got a lot out of each class and wanted to let you know that those two classes were the highlights (and gifts!) of my trip.
I hope you have lovely holidays and a wonderful New Year.
Warm wishes,
Kurry
Charlotte and Mike,
Just want to say Thank You for all of the time and assistance you have shown me so far. You both are so friendly and kind, and have taken your time to show me the poses and encourage me every step of the way. The individual attention and compassion is so appreciated!
Thanks again - see you soon!
Jane :)
Hello Mike!
Thank you so much for being so loving and kind when I walked through the door of your center this morning. Allison was such a loving, nurturing presence in the class. I appreciated her very much.
I also have a studio in town (in my back yard downtown!!!, next to our urban farm!!!).
Thank you again. I plan to come some time tomorrow also.
With gratitude,
Jenny
"Hey guys, just wanted to say hello and I MISS YOU!!!!!! Namaste,Will"
Atmosphere and space is fitting for a yoga practice.
An exceptional offering of yoga classes and times.
Warm, friendly and compassionate staff.
Highly recommended.
Posted by: cbeard, 6/10/2009
I love the teachers and I always feel refreshed and revived after a class. I would highly recommend Pranava Yoga Center.
I'm home at Pranava Yoga Center whereas other yoga establishments felt more like going to the gym. Mike and Charlotte are an asset to the Colorado Springs area.
Mike and Charlotte have created more than a business at Pranava, they have assembled a community, as widely varied, spritually inspired and gob smackingly flexible as anyone could wish for....if you haven't tried class at Pranava...GO!!!
Pranava Yoga Center is amazing. From the second that I walked through the door I felt welcome and part of the community. Mike and Charlotte work hard to make everyone feel welcome from knowing every single person's name who walks through the door to their wall of yogis. Not only is is a great environment the yoga itself is great too. I have never worked so hard in a yoga class. They offer a wide range of classes from the basics, which is perfectly paced for first time yoga goers, to the challenging Dharma Mittra classes where you learn how to do inversions. There really is something for everyone. My favorite class is Charlotte's 6:30 am Vinyasa class. Charlotte is a wonderful teacher who teaches to everyone's level in every class she teaches. Mike brings humor and comfort to every class he teaches. I'm so glad that I found this yoga center and I plan on going there as long as I live in Colorado Springs.
The positive and open atmosphere created by Mike, Charlotte, and all the other instructors is something rarely found in American yoga studios. If you live in town, moving to town, or just traveling through (like me), Pranava Yoga Center should be on the top of anyone's list to try.
Very friendly, highly experienced and skilled teachers, relaxed community-friendly feel, lots of scheduling options, good location with easy parking, reasonable pricing. If you are brand new to yoga or have been practicing for years, I think Pranava will met your needs!
A good friend got me to try yoga and now I am totally hooked! Charlotte is one of the nicest people I have ever met! Her teaching methods make it easy for someone like me who never thought they would do yoga. She helps you see that yoga is about self discovery and internal peace and happiness. Its not about who can do it better or even how good you are, its about learning and getting to know yourself better then you could have ever imagined you could! The people at PYC are amazing and I am very thankful we came into each others lives!
For four years, the first four since the Indy created the Best Yoga Studio category, CorePower reigned supreme. But in the most loving, kind and gentle manner, Pranava Yoga Center has unseated it this year, settling into a comfortable lotus position atop our scene.
What makes Pranava different from our other local studios, in founders Mike and Charlotte Matsumura's words, is a more spiritual component with a focus on all eight limbs of yoga: "The asana [physical] practice is just one part of yoga," says Mike. "We also practice pranayama [breathing], meditation and the other limbs."
Both Mike, 39, and Charlotte, 40, teach almost daily, along with 13 other regular instructors and occasional guest educators. All combined, the studio offers nearly 40 classes a week inside of five primary styles: Ashtanga, Dharma, Jivamukti, Vinyasa and gentle yoga.
Since it opened in January 2009, Pranava has enjoyed steady growth in student numbers that just last month spawned establishment of a necessary third practice area in their building's basement. It's a newly renovated, freshly trimmed space that holds 45 mats; their other rooms only hold 28 and 14, guaranteeing a relatively low teacher/student ratio.
"Our students are the best part of this," says Mike. "We meet wonderful people — this is their studio, too. It's a community."
You can read more about Mike, Charlotte and all the instructors and styles on the outfit's website, but not the whole story about how hard the couple has worked to make Pranava a reality. In addition to teaching nine classes a week, Charlotte works full-time as a mortgage processor for a local bank. Mike teaches 11 to 12 classes a week and has worked tirelessly to create and certify Pranava's 200-hour teacher training program; the first class will be welcomed in January 2011.
Some more fun trivia about the two: After falling in love in 2006 in New York City, where renowned yogi Sri Dharma Mittra had just initiated Mike as one of his disciples, Mike followed Charlotte to Colorado Springs, where he worked in room service at The Broadmoor for a stint before deciding to open Pranava. Prior to their time together, Mike was Al Pacino's personal assistant, home chef and property manager for 16 years. Yes, that's Al Pacino, the A-list actor of A-list actors. (FYI: Mike's reserved about discussing it at length, so don't ask him about it before he puts you in a headstand.)
Yoga's future in the West and the Springs: "It's going to get bigger," says Charlotte. "Once you take a class and get hooked, it tends to be something you stick with." According to Mike, "Every studio here is important to help make us a yoga town, like Boulder. The Springs could be the next big yoga town, just like how when people think about a spiritual town, they mention Crestone." — Matthew Schniper
Gold Winner!
Gold Winner!
Winner of 2009!
Best Yoga Studio in Colorado Springs
2nd Place!
Second Place
"Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." -Dalai Lama
