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Meet Courtney Smith of Thug Yoga in Aspen

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Smith.

Courtney, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I first moved to Aspen in 2007/8, I was working in a snowboard shop as well as teaching yoga. Every guy I worked with at the shop wanted to learn more about breathing and stretching but refused to go to my classes because of what they had experienced in the past. At the time, most classes in Aspen were extremely expensive, ridiculously hot, included little to no explanation of Sanskrit terms or alignment, gave no modifications for injuries or beginners and were very unwelcoming.

One example I heard from the shop owner involved him attending a class where other students were falling over onto him as they mindlessly hucked themselves into handstands. Other examples involved some guys attending a class where the teacher told them, “maybe yoga isn’t your thing” and proceeded to embarrass them in their first-ever yoga class. So we decided to start our own class for the shredder crew in the snowboard shop. I only charged $10 or donation, we played rap music because that’s what we all liked, it was cool to normal temps so we emphasized ujjai breathing for heat, and the guys renamed the poses to things they could remember. I created sequences that balanced the work we do on the mountains depending on the season.

For example, in winter, we don’t do a lot of chair and warrior poses because we are all doing those actions a lot already by skiing and snowboarding. Instead, we pay more attention to stretching and releasing those areas. I also gave a ton of options for injuries and beginners and emphasized that it is always okay to lie down and just breathe. And we created a “don’t f*ckin touch me” zone for the shop owner. The name came about because back then, we were the only people doing yoga to 2pac, NWA, Biggie, Gang Starr, etc. People would walk into the snowboard shop where we held classes, see these saggy-pant snowboarder dudes stretching while listening to rap music and say, “who are these thugs doing yoga!”. We thought it was hilarious because the only real “thugs” in Aspen are the bears and mountain lions! But we embraced the fact we did things our own way, outside the box. We kept the name as a tribute 2pac, who’s moniker Thug Life was an acronym combating hatred.

I also discovered that the origin of the word is from India and that the earliest references to the word somewhat mirrored our story: a group of people in Delhi who didn’t vibe with the wealthy crowd and thus were given their own area by the river to do what they want. In our world, THUG YOGA is an acronym for The Hustle U Give Yoga Opens Greater Awareness. You can also just use the THUG acronym on its own with the word “yoga” (The Hustle U Give yoga) and allow that to be answered in any number of ways depending on the person. Either way, for us, it is symbolic of the benefits you receive from hustling on to your mat every day.

The final element, beer, only came about in 2010, I think – when one student called in “hungover” and said he needed a beer and if he could have a beer AND do yoga then he’d go to class. I said, “leggo, bring your beer” (knowing that if he just got on the mat, he’d feel better). Well that story caught on and soon everyone was bringing a beer. It made the class a little more social for those with a fear of stepping into the unknown of a yoga practice. A couple of years later, the Aspen Brewing Co. owner (Duncan) offered to sponsor us so we could actually have good local craft beer. And he’s still our biggest supporter and sponsor to this day! With Duncan’s encouragement, I officially trademarked the name in 2015 with a first use date of 2010.

Today we have a lot of those same students from the snowboard shop and many more. We’ve moved the main evening classes to a studio but we still have small morning classes in the shop. We have relationships with a local CBD company and weed dispensary for combining those products with yoga as well as with the local live music venue by which we give away tickets to rap music shows featuring the artists who’s music we play in class. I’ve taught Thug Yoga® at Wanderlust and other festivals as well as special events from Atlanta to San Diego and overseas. I’ve trained several “Thugstitute” teachers for subbing classes while I’m away and am in the process of training “Badassadors” to license and lead their own Thug Yoga classes in their town.

I’m also leading a Thug Yoga/Surf retreat in Morocco coming up at the end of April. In the future, we are looking to add online classes for those who don’t live close or those whose schedules don’t allow them to attend classes. Overall, I just want to help people transform their bodies and minds with breath, thoughtful movement and meditation in order to enhance performance in and recover quicker from their chosen sports or life in general, to lessen or prevent injuries and soreness, to elevate their chances of participating in these sports and life activities for long into the future, and to give them life tools for dealing with the physical and mental stresses we all encounter. And we do this all in a zone of acceptance and accessibility that encourages individuality and combines our love of rap music with the ancient practice of yoga.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has been pretty smooth because this type of class was so needed in the yoga world. The only struggles have been financial. Yoga teachers don’t really make much money – especially those who are trying to keep the practice affordable for all.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Thug Yoga®️ is for the homies. Created and trademarked by Courtney Smith, this class is designed for the real one who doesn’t follow the crowd. Laugh with your crew as you breathe, move and open the body in a medium but mindful flow. Hilarious pose names and hip hop beats curated to the particular sequence make this “Gateway Yoga” the only option for beginners wanting to dip into the yoga sauce, as well as those looking to spice up their practice. Learn the basics as well as some badass moves for the dance floor. Originally designed for the mountain athlete in mind, the class generally flows as follows: Warm it up (breath practice and easy movement); heat it up (Shred, Surf or Snoop Salutations and longer held standing poses); stretch it out (deep hip openers, longer held sitting poses and heart openers); chill it out (relaxation).

For those 21 and over, a little hair of the Downward Dogg (preferably by the Aspen Brewing Co.) is optional. Namashred. I specialize in helping my snowboarder/skier friends transform their bodies and minds with breath, thoughtful movement and meditation in order to enhance performance in and recover quicker from their beloved mountain sports, to lessen or prevent injuries and soreness, to elevate their chances of participating in these sports for long into the future, and to give them tools for life in general for dealing with the physical and mental stresses we all encounter.

We do this all in a zone of acceptance and accessibility ($10 per class) that encourages individuality and combines our love of rap music with the ancient practice of yoga. But whether or not you snowboard or ski, Thug Yoga is open and beneficial to anyone and everyone. I truly believe that the only prerequisite to a yoga practice is the ability to breathe (i.e. you’re alive). We have become known as the “Gateway Yoga”. It’s a great place to start because it’s a chill vibe where you are invited to laugh, ask questions and “Do Less” when needed or desired and just breathe or sip on your Hair of the Downward Dogg.

It’s also a great way to change up your routine if you already have a yoga practice. Bottom line – it’s fun. We do lots of special events with local DJs, giveaways from the Belly Up Aspen for tickets to rap music shows, raffles from yoga-wear brands and weed dispensaries. I have also partnered with a local CBD company, Sopris Health and Wellness to use their salve on students during rest pose and allow students to sample the products within their yoga practice.

I’m most proud of our TY Crew and the community we’ve built over the years. Many of these people would have NEVER stepped foot into a yoga studio, and are now regular practitioners. Not only do we stretch together, but we go to rap music shows, meet up on the mountain, cheers each other at a bar and hi-five each other at non-Thug Yoga classes and events. Whether or not they’re in class all the time, this crew always supports and integrates the practice into their lives which I love to see. I hear them talk about breathing as they hike a mountain, pre-shred warm-ups and post-shred stretching, the new music and history they’ve learned in class about some rappers and hip hop, alignment for the spine and the importance of mini yoga breaks while working, etc.

I’m also very proud to have taken the Thug Yoga style and idea and molded it for a variety of people who may not feel comfortable or have the opportunity to attend regular yoga classes. I teach classes in Spanish for Latino workers in the hospitality businesses and government offices, as well as yoga and meditation to the inmates of the county jail. We are set apart by the culture we’ve created. It’s not just yoga to rap music, it’s not just beer yoga, it’s not just snowboard yoga, it’s not just laughing yoga, it’s not just funny names of poses – it’s all of that and more.

It’s a community of people who were previously left out of the yoga world, whether by choice, financial constraint or comfortability. We’ve created a process to give life-tools to those who may not have had access to them previously or were not comfortable seeking out those tools in a traditional sense. And in a town full of accidental deaths and suicide, these are some necessary skills that no one should be denied.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Aspen is a great place to have Thug Yoga because there was nothing like it here before we started it. In fact, in 2008 there was nothing like it anywhere, as far as I could see. I’ve lived in 4 other countries, and all of my friends from those places comment that they wish they had TY in their town or they wish I would go there and teach a class or workshop. So in that respect, it’s a great style for any place. This is why I want to get some videos out there so my friends overseas and around the world can link up share our community!

Pricing:

  • $10 per person is for regular classes.
  • Private classes and special events are priced on request.

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Seth Beckton

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