testimonials
"I found myself at your studio yesterday afternoon (great 5 PM class with Lideith). I actually had stopped by about two years ago and met you in-person – very briefly. At the time, I had just moved back to Houston and was really just exploring the yoga studios that were in the area. I remembered the energy and the peace that I felt when I not only spoke with you, but that also was in the studio. So, why has it taken me two years to come back and "re-discover" your studio? Well, sometimes, timing is everything, right? Regardless of the trials or challenges that life has handed me in the last few years, I am choosing the present time to really begin a yoga practice. I have taken yoga in the past (even Kundhali – loved it), however, it was sporadic. I definitely consider myself a beginner.
My idea of an enriched yoga practice comes from within. I found that after two years of searching for a yoga studio, I really gravitated to yours – because it allowed me to find that peace within myself. I believe Houston has a lot of wonderful yoga studios – yours just happen to awaken me in a different way. I am looking forward to my yoga journey with Jennyoga and hopefully I can re-introduce myself again soon to you." ~Cassie
"P.S. The recommended reading you have posted on your Website is fantastic. Thank you for also positing this and the different styles of yoga."
"You are the best!!!!!!! I get my inspiration from you! You are the one who reminds me of myself many years ago when I had lots of energy and creative juices always flowing. I see this in you all the time. I am always amazed when I read an email with more news of what you are doing. You have brought an awareness of yoga to the community like no one else." ~M. Silberstein, JCC Houston
"Allow me to take this opportunity to compliment you on your fabulous studio you have created. I am also quite impressed with the interesting and exciting classes and events you are offering at your studio. You have accomplished so much and great with passion, commitment vision, purpose and creativity. I've admired you since I first met you years ago, and still hope to do a spiritual retreat/workshop with you at some point." ~nathan
"I really really miss your classes!! I've been to literally every vinyasa flow class in Cheltenham, England and nothing compares...not even close." ~an
"I have never felt better just after a few short weeks, both physically and spiritually." ~W. Collins, Houston, TX
In the months of training with Jennifer Buergermeister, I learned more about how to be a leader than a mere yoga instructor barking orders. I learned how to walk into a room full of strangers, take them through the journey of yoga, and do it with confidence. Jenny taught me how to honor the trust of the students, which I, the instructor, must hold in my palms like a delicate heart. One does not learn this in the books. Some yoga teachers spend years trying to develop rapport with the students, some never do, some give up. Jenny instills the most important ingredient that all good yoga teachers possess: self-empowerment. The empowerment is not handed over like a baton. Rather, she plants the seed deep within the psyche--the soul--of her students. Then she waits. Jenny knows--even when her student is ignorant of the fact--that her student is the caretaker of his/her own development; that beautiful human potential that lies dormant in all of us, like the Kundalini, bursting to be let free from the base of the spine, is dependent solely upon the individual. Jenny initiates the embers that crackle in the ashy pile of the soul, fans the flames of passion--any passion--and lets loose the fires, stands back, admires, and smiles in the glow of her own kind. For this reason, she is not only 'Jenny Appleseed,' but also the 'Karmic Accelerator.'" ~Cathal Keane, Houston
First and foremost, I am blessed to have had the opportunity to take this teacher training and more importantly learn from such an amazing person and yogi. It is exciting to think that I will always be able to tell people that Jennifer Buergermeister is my mentor and guru. I am so grateful that Jennifer was able to impart her wealth of knowledge upon me making me want to take my view of yoga to a much deeper level and incorporate the techniques, ideas and way of thinking into my daily life. Jennifer, Thank you so much for your time and dedication to us and this teacher training. You are a God-send.
Jennyoga teacher training has been everything I hoped for and so much more. It has tremendously exceeded my expectations. Throughout this teacher I was continually reminded that there are so many realms to yoga and always so much to learn. I have also learned that aspects of yoga are all around me and can be incorporated into everything I do. Yoga is not just the act of moving through specific poses but so much more. It is a way of life. Yoga is the act of living mindfully and purposefully with awareness.
The only obstacle I was faced with was being open-minded when new ideas, theories and philosophies were presented. I realized that after I accepted the open-minded technique and way of thinking, I learned so much more. I enjoyed every aspect of the teacher training for different reasons, but I enjoyed the handson, active portions of the training the most, only because I learn the best when I actually experience the technique personally or with my hands and body. I am able to apply everything we learned to my classes and in my own life. Teaching yoga seemed to be such a huge challenge in the beginning, but it has gotten easier and feels more natural with every class I teach. Thank you Jennifer, for believing in me and forcing me to jump right in and teach. I now look forward to every class I get to teach.
My goals as a yoga instructor are to empower others to love and appreciate themselves, love and appreciate life, and feel better mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually through the practice of yoga. I want my students to feel comfortable with and accept who they are and to appreciate what their body can do for them. I want to help the student connect with their breath, move with their breath and learn how important their breath is throughout their daily life, not just during a yoga class. I want to help the student feel as though they are taking action to better their health, cure and/or prevent injuries, ailments, sickness or disease.
I am inspired by yoga because of how it has shaped and renewed my life and given me a new outlook on life. Yoga has been an enlightening and life-changing practice for me. Yoga has taught me:
- Surrender- not trying to control, but just letting life happen
- Acceptance- accepting myself just as I am, accepting the current situation and appreciating the experience for what it can teach and how I can learn and grow from it
- Peace- letting go and experiencing the absence of stress
Through tools learned in yoga, I am able to experience and incorporate surrender, acceptance and peace in all situations and circumstances and in all areas of my life. Thanks to yoga, I am now a more free and peaceful person. ~Brittany Smith
I only have happy recollections when I think of the time we’ve all had together. I found myself looking forward to the classes every week. This course brought me back to my days in college however I enjoyed all of the assigned reading. Much of it made me think in such a way that brought clarity to many of my thought processes and spiritual beliefs. Also, many people around me have said and continue to say that Yoga has brought a calmness about me; a calmness that they enjoy being around. It was at that point that I began to understand the “secondary gain” concept that you went into so deeply.
As with life, I’m sure my experiences will continue to enrich my practice both in the studio and at home. There is so much that I have learned over the course of the past few months. Primarily, I have learned to tap into my spirituality in a way that I never knew possible but knew that I needed. While Yoga classes have helped, much of the reading material that was given has made me realize what I need in order to not only have a balanced body but also a balanced mind. I had a feeling, as with my other studies, that we would be skimming the surface of many of the topics we covered. I’ve also come to realize that there is still so much more to learn.
I have come to realize that my heart has been closed to love due to having had it broken many years ago. I was able to give it but I never felt I was worthy of receiving it. I initially thought that my strength and independence were what I wanted but I now know that my goal is open my heart to love in order to receive it in ways that I wouldn’t allow for many years. I also have a goal to be able to give more love to those whom surround me on a more frequent basis. I know that this journey will not only be challenging but rewarding as I am ready for the light of love to come to me. I already see and feel that the light has become brighter because I find that more people smile at me, acknowledge me, or talk to me when before this happened less so. The acknowledgements occur at work, at the grocery store, and other places where strangers have the opportunity to interact with you.
I really had no idea what I was walking into when I read the list of topics this course was going to cover but I knew that it was now or never because so many signs of change were being thrown at me. A few people had even mentioned that if I ever considered a new career it should be as a healer. As I mentioned before, I now have a way to explore my spirituality in ways that I didn’t know existed. This course has also helped me with my faith and to find a way to continue along a road I was having difficulty going down. I can’t express the gratitude to you for giving us your time to take us through this journey. Also, I give you thanks for continuing to have faith in our abilities as teachers when I know there are times I feel that I’m not ready to take the plunge. The question I always ask myself is would I do this again and it is a resounding yes. ~Jennifer Handy
When I first signed up for yoga teacher training, my intention was to further my spiritual studies. I discovered fairly early on that Jennifer and I were on a similar path. When I first met her at Your Body Center, I was seeking a “teacher” to help me to further my yoga practice as well as my spiritual path. I seemed to have found that. When we were sitting at the house of tea, and I was talking to “Mike” about his journey and furthering his path in Reiki and yoga, Jennifer walked in just in time to explain the deeper meaning of yoga. She also proceeded to tell him about the teacher training. I took her up on the offer. Coincidence? I think not. Ironically, one of my first students in my chakra classes was Mike. He now plans to attend class on Friday every week, as it is the only time of the week that he has time due to his hectic schedule.
I have learned many wonderful things and made wonderful friends. We have built bonds that I hope we keep for ever. We have all grown, shared, laughed and cried. I must say it was one of the best six months of my life. I am sad that it is now over, but I hope to keep in touch and grow all the relationships that sprouted from this training.
My knowledge of yoga and its deeper meaning is much greater now than I could have ever imagined. I have always been so focused on the mind that it did not occur to me to take time out and focus on the body which is just as important. I am delighted that I have found a way in which I can weave my spiritual studies, my acupuncture and yoga into a healing practice that is good for me and good for all those I come into contact with. I must say that I have changed for the better and would not take back any of it. I originally had no intention of teaching yoga, however with some practice I know I will come to really enjoy it. Now I just need to get the life and time balance down. ~Sara Florida Blank
