The Story of Jack Utermoehl

Jack Utermoehl

Welcome!

I'm Jack, an E-RYT 200 yoga teacher with over 4000 hours of teaching, a YACEP certified continued education provider, the founder of Asivana Yoga, and so much more.

I found yoga from a desire to become healthy. I was nervous, intimidated, and unsure of myself as I walked into my first yoga class in 2014.

Not one to shy away from my own growth, I had an intense drive to show up and fix my depression, understand why I feel the way I do, and to start taking responsibility for my life.

"The quieter you are, the more you can hear."

Meet

Well it worked. I started having epiphany after epiphany on my mat. I started feeling physically strong and mentally at peace. I went from 1 class a week to 2, then 4, then 8; at my logistical limit, I began practicing at home, then day dreaming, until I was actually dreaming of yoga.

I had spent years studying spiritual paths, practicing techniques, and discussing philosophy with anyone who was willing to converse ad nauseum with me. Then suddenly making shapes in my body and breathing fixed my problems.

I had to know why this was working so well.

Teacher Training

I joined a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training only 3 months from my first class.

While this wasn't my first "journey" in life, and it won't be my last "journey" in life, this journey was certainly the most transformative of my life.

I learned all the tools I needed to become depression free, to heal my body and mind, and to find peace in my own heart. I learned that these are normal parts of life and actually part of what makes life so great to be part of.

This experience culminated in my chance encounter with my friend and mentor Manoj.

Jack Utermoehl with Manoj Chalam

Journey

In 2016, I went to Telluride for the annual yoga festival. I was gifted a ticket by my local studio owner. Here I discovered mythology and Jungian philosophy tied into Hindu archetypes. A method of understanding, on a deep anthropomorphized level, the nature of reality and how to navigate through it.

I was enamored by the concepts, stories, and lessons. I listened for hours and talked with Manoj whenever he didn't have customers at his booth. I learned so much.

I took home a Nataraj murti and planned to join Manoj at his retreat in a few months. This is where I met my other teacher that connected all the dots, his wife Joythi Chalam.

A devoted practitioner of Advaita Vedanta, she passed down the knowledge her own guru shared with her. I absorbed it all and still share much of this knowledge to this day. This path cemented my training into a path I can share with others and lead me to India on a personal pilgrimage.

Asivana + Bhav

Asivana is Sanskrit meaning 'to bring together' and bhav is Sanskrit meaning 'state of being' or as I like to call it, the flow of love and devotion.

In 2022, I started Asivana Yoga as a means to connect yoga practitioners with quality yoga props and accessories plus I wanted to have a lifetime supply of cork yoga mats.

And after traveling with Manoj for a few years post-covid, I decided to connect spiritual people with spiritual jewelry which I coined Bhav Spiritual Jewelry.

This has become my work. It's not to make money as much as it is to connect with yogis.

"Kirtan gathering at Bhakti House Studio"

Dharma

Something that arose over the years, with the passing of my teacher Jyothi and presenting at yoga festivals, is the strong desire to connect and be in relationship with the world.

I decided to live within the Lila (the divine play of life) and that means showing up fully in everything that I do and being in service with as many people as I can.

These two ventures have allowed me to travel across America to present at yoga festivals, participate in local markets, and to connect material reminders of the great joys within you.

Newsletter + More

We're connecting now to share a part of our journeys in life together and I love that.

Stay connected by joining my newsletter, see me in my booth at a festival or presenting a workshop, come to a yoga class, or share your story over a cup of chai.

With Gratitude and Blessings to You,

Jack Utermoehl

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