Traditionally new groups have ventured into Saguache County and found room to live and thrive. Many come to try their ideas on sustainable living, healing and spirituality.

With 300 days of high altitude sunshine, it is no wonder solar energy development is happening here, as the Board of County Commissions lays the ground work for new installations. Biofuel and biogas projects are also being investigated. Alternative/Green building is becoming more common with workshops held every year during the Energy Fair – Labor Day Weekend in Crestone.

Traditional medicine disciplines are practiced here with many massage therapists, acupuncture and wellness centers. Some of the modalities available include deep tissues, shiatsu, reki, reflexology, hot stone, cranialsacral, Rolfing, lomi-lomi, and Swedish. Relaxation and comfort is just a phone call away and any treatment can be augmented by a soak at one of our three hot springs.

The peaceful natural spaces here encourage soul searching and contemplation. A non-profit called the Manitou Foundation has given land grants to many spiritual groups to establish centers in our area.

Along with many traditional Western churches, Saguache County is home to these organizations:

Atalanta: Community garden and sustainable living project. 719-256-4446

Chama Ling Retreat Center: A Dharma center in the Bön Buddist tradition of Tibet.

Crestone Healing Arts Center: “An immersion in self-transformation and personal healing.”

Dharma Ocean Foundation: Dedicated to the practice, study, and preservation of the teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Dragon Mountain Zen Center: A small experimental Zen temple in the Shunryu Suzuki Roshi lineage.

EarthArt Village: Dedicated to promoting sustainable community in all its aspects–environmental, social, and spiritual.

EDUCO: International youth training organization.

Karma Thegsum Tashi Gomang: A Tibetan Buddhist Project which includes a stupa, retreat cabins, and hosting house for meditation practice and teachings.

Little Shepherd in the Hills Episcopal Church: Oldest Spiritual center in Crestone. 719-539-4562

Padmasanbmhava Stupa

Sacred Mountains Foundation: Educationalexperimental process for self-empowerment. 719-256-5113

Sacred Passage™ and the Way of Nature Fellowship: Visions Quests, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and liberation. www.sacredpassage.com

Sangre De Cristo Christian Church: Established in 1973 on the outskirts of Crestone. 719-256-4625

Shumei International Institute: Sharing Natural Agriculture, art, beauty and healing Jyorei with the world.

Subud San Luis Valley: An international group embracing all religions and involving a very personal connection with God. 719-256-4446

Temple of Consciousness and Humanity in Unity: Reminds humanity to live in harmony, forgiveness, service, and love.

The Crestone Mountain Zen Center: Zen Buddhist monastic practice center.

The Haidakhandi Universal Ashram: Inspired by Haidakhan Babaji of India, and dedicated to the Divine Mother.

The Pundarika Foundation: Preserving and supporting the lineage teachings of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition.

The Samten Ling Retreat Center: Established for the preservation and practice of the Nyingma Wisdom tradition of Tibet.

The Sri Aurobindo Learning Center: Based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. 719-256-4917

The Spiritual Life Institute and Nada Hermitage Retreat Center, a Carmelite Catholic Monastery: Chapel services open to the public.

Vajra Vidya Retreat Center: Founded by the Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche and open to all practitioners.

White Jewel Mountain: Weekly Tai Chi Practice. 719-256-5773

Yeshe Khorlo: Tibetan Buddhist organization founded by the Venerable Gangten Tulku Rinpoche of Butan.
 

For such a remote rural area, Saguache County boasts an amazing wealth of excellent yoga teachers. Following are three examples and the separate traditions they represent.

Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient system, a comprehensive philosophy of life which also creates a vibrant, healthy body and mind. The practice is based on synchronizing the breath with specific actions in a traditional sequence, and is accessible to any level of practitioner.

Sri K Pattabhi Jois, one of the three primary disciples of Sri T Krishnamacharya, is the living master of the traditional Ashtanga method. At 93, he continues to teach in Mysore, South India.

Annie Pace is one of only a handful of true Ashtanga lineage holders in the Western world. She received her Advanced B teaching certification in 1995 and maintains a close connection with the Jois family in India. Annie is the founder of Shakti Sharanam, a new yoga shala and retreat center in historic Crestone, which embodies a rare synthesis of traditional yogic lifestyle and contemporary environmental sustainability. Contact: Annie Pace, Shakti Sharanam, PO Box 1125, Crestone, CO 81131. Phone: 7199-256-5668; www.shaktisharanam.com.

Kundalini Yoga is a technique that utilizes specifically prescribed hand positions, breath, posture, sound and movement to profoundly optimize physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth.

From 1968 until his death on Oct. 6, 2004, Yogi Bhajan traveled, taught and inspired millions around the world. Sue Beck Retuta and Dan Retuta are Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructors, having received their training through Yogi Bhajan’s Master’s Touch Teacher Certification Program. Sue and Dan currently administer the Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Certification program at Crestone Healing Arts Center, as well as the Center’s 12-Week Massage Certification Intensives Contact: Crestone Healing Arts Center, PO Box 155, 1689 Columbine Overlook, Crestone, CO 81131-0156. Phone: 719-256-4036; E-Mail: retuta@crestonehac.com.

Iyengar Yoga has been called the yoga of action because of its focus on muscle action and bone alignment. Poses (asanas) are held for a longer period of time than in other styles of yoga in order to allow students to focus their awareness into the movement of the muscles and the orientation of the bones.

BKS Iyengar was the nephew and student of yoga master T. Krishnamacharya. He was the primary force behind the introduction of yoga to the West. To Iyengar, “alignment is enlightenment,” meaning the practice of yoga has the power to remove the influence of memories and past conditioning and allow the spiritual essence of the individual to emerge. Contact Chuck Tidd, Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor, 719-256-5436.

In addition to the diverse yoga selections, there are many other classes and programs available in the area including Tai chi, Qigong, Aikido, Karate, and several kinds of dance.