Meet Micah Springer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Springer.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Micah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Oddly, my story began with my best friend and I backpacking across Africa for a year, in 1993, when we were 20. I fell in love with a pastoral warrior and his family. Returning with a paralyzing case of reverse culture shock and a broken heart, I sought to reconnect with the wisdom of the nomads and discovered the practice of yoga and its precept of present-mindedness. Yoga and nomads have this in common. Although recently closed, my sister Desi and I co-owned Vital Yoga for 20 years, which at the time of its inception was one of only three studios in all of Denver.

We built a culture of trusted family, some of our relationships enduring three location changes, four shifts in practice style, as well as countless breakups, deaths, and births. Vital Yoga raised us as much as we introduced our students to various, ever-evolving systems of postural paradigm. Our business was successful, shifting the yoga industry’s model from renting studio space to purchasing commercial property, and though Vital is no more, the relationships I fostered are amongst my greatest accomplishments.

In August 2017 I published my memoir, Keepers of The Story, about my initial journey to Africa. I refused to print on virgin paper and thus had to self-publish and locate a printer who would abide my uncompromising environmental sensibilities–a residual wisdom from my Kenyan family. To date, I’ve sold nearly 5000 copies, including many more ebook and audiobook versions.

Currently, I lead African Wildlife Safaris, offer private consultations on Ayurveda and Astrology, am working on a series of poetry books for publication, as well as preserving tropical rainforests in Ghana. My seemingly disconnected passions revolve around the healthy relationship of our mind-body, which includes the most forgiving and generous body we have in common, our Earth and her sentient beings; I was fortunate for the early impression a devoted people and a sacred land made upon me, and hope to serve that vision well.

Has it been a smooth road?
Entrepreneurial spirit is by definition ambitious and innovative but I’ve come to accept that being a visionary assures you’ll face extra challenges; the road has not yet been paved, the swim is still against the current. When I first opened my yoga studios it wasn’t uncommon for potential customers to call hoping to find out about “yogurt,” and if we needed counter help. Meditation was even more mystical. Today the concepts are relatively mainstream–what a difference 20 years make!

Strangely, in traditional publishing, it’s still non-existent to use 100% recycled paper, so I’ve encountered numerous obstacles there as well. I turned down two giants in the industry who insisted on virgin fiber and have tried to bring the attention to popular authors so they may put pressure on the publishing houses. I’m excited for the day to come where using recycled fiber is automatic. If we don’t have trees, we’ll not have the air in our lungs to read or write our stories.

Going against the current means I constantly question myself. Am I making a decision to garner wealth or fame, is it sustainable, will my choice serve the greatest number of people/animals/plants? While the external challenges to owning your own business are real, the most difficult is the constant doubt, the critical self-awareness necessary to do the right thing. It’s tiring and unfortunately rarely lucrative. However, I sleep with peace in my heart most nights and wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
After I published my memoir, readers had interest in seeing Kenya’s pastoral culture and wildlife through my perspective. I began leading eco-friendly yoga retreats in E. Africa, as well as other places.

I suppose I’m known for bridging seemingly disparate peoples, reminding us about the qualities we share while also highlighting our diversity. I strive to remember that the ordinary is, in fact, sacred, that what we easily take for granted, once acknowledged and honored, becomes a place for our reverence. Once while on safari at dusk I asked the group to really look at the grazing herd animals, to see them for this single, distilled moment as it was possible that some would surrender their lives to the soon-to-be hunting predators. The group grew very quiet, a deafening and focused state of sacred presence that may have been missed otherwise. Life and death became very real for us all that evening.

I’m more introverted than extroverted, and leading retreat groups through wild landscapes requires me to grow, emotionally and spiritually. One of the requirements on my safaris is that we spend two hours daily in total silence. Initially, this intimidates people, but later they express it was their favorite aspect, the time to reflect and temporarily reclaim our energy from the group dynamic. Secretly, it offers introverted leaders a little reprieve.

Finally, few Westerners have intimate relationships with shepherding, semi-nomadic people. My village brothers co-lead with me and come on safari with us. The depth of cultural exchange is extraordinary and unforgettable.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Ooh, tough question for me as I recently closed my yoga studio. The property taxes doubled over just two years as the neighborhood became so desirable. I love living in Denver and felt supported by the city in many ways. Some industries are simply not equipped to own real estate, and this saddens me. I prefer to shop locally, support mom and pop stores when I can, but many of them are beholden to the renting paradigm. I would like to see them own their locations as I believe it adds to and maintains the character of great cities. Otherwise, I’d say Denver and the surrounding suburbs are a very friendly environment for new business. As far as the yoga industry specifically…it may be saturated now, but offering private lessons for revenue, as well as volunteering at schools and prisons are still amazing ways in which to serve humanity.

Pricing:

• $6500 Ten Day Kenyan Safari
• $18.00 100% Recycled Fiber, Paperback Copy of Keepers of The Story
• $150.00 Ninety Minute Astrology/Ayurveda Consultation

Contact Info:

• Website: micahspringer.com
• Phone: 303-489-5808
• Email: vitalmicah@me.com
• Instagram: vitalmicah
• Facebook: Keepers of The Story/Micah Springer

Image Credit:
Laurie Smith, Lee Eldridge, Lintan Lenaibalatia, John Friend, Duane Springer, Kasia Martin

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