By Jen Murphy
Photography by Spencer Miller & Trevor Triano
The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit term for “unite.” That concept was the driving force behind the Aspen Idea: Modern-day founders Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke conceived the mountain town as a place that enhanced the mind, body, and spirit—and that attracted those seeking personal growth and social betterment. These three yoga teachers are carrying on that vision.
The Fundamentalist
Marco “Coco” Rojas roots his practice in what he calls yoga fundamentals: breath, alignment, and basic postures. But don’t think for a second that his classes are easy. “Even advanced students have to practice the fundamentals,” he says. Indeed, Rojas knows how to make deceptively simple postures incredibly challenging. Walk into one of his classes at O2 Aspen or True Nature Healing Arts in Carbondale and you’ll see students trembling as they try to hold a yoga block above their head … while keeping their shoulders back and down … elbows locked … and arms straight.
A native of Venezuela, Rojas spent 18 years teaching in New York City. After the pandemic forced him to close his studio, a teaching opportunity arose in Aspen. “People say Aspen is a place of privilege, but locals know the true privilege is to live in a place of such natural beauty,” he says. “I’ve never met a more disciplined community. In the winter it can be –8°F, and there will be a waitlist for my class. Locals show up ready to work. They trust that I will lead them on a journey to become the best version of themselves.”
The Queen of Shakti
Like most people, Jayne Gottlieb first started coming to Aspen for the winters. The California native grew up skiing with her family in Snowmass—but the slopes weren’t what lured her back. It was the captivating performances she witnessed at the Crystal Palace. After studying theater, Gottlieb nabbed a job at the now-defunct historic dinner theater on Hyman Avenue and soon after launched her own children’s production company. As a side hustle, she’d teach yoga at the Sundeck at Aspen Mountain. “So many people told me they needed more of my energy,” she says.
Inspired, she launched her own studio, Aspen Shakti, in 2014, with classes modeled after author Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey. She also leads Mountaintop Yoga on The Little Nell’s Wedding Deck during the summer months. “To get people to come back to class, you have to hook them,” she says. “Through my sequences, I awaken the soul and help people find a triumphant moment. They want to return to feel transformed.” Gottlieb acknowledges that the journey inward isn’t always beautiful—“but this environment in Aspen is, and it holds people in a way that they feel nurtured.”
The Music Man
A Vinyasa class taught by Aaron King doubles as a jam session, where warrior flows are carefully choreographed to a soundtrack of Phish and the Grateful Dead. As he walks among his students, he bobs his head and alternates between cueing poses and lip-syncing lyrics.
King discovered yoga while working in the music industry in Los Angeles in the 1990s. A class with power yoga pioneer Bryan Kest changed his life. “Yoga isn’t about a physical pose,” King says. “It’s about mental and physical well-being, looking inward, and using your breath to stay calm and present.”
After operating his own Aspen studio, King Yoga, for nearly 14 years, he now teaches at O2 Aspen and hosts classes on Ajax Mountain and in Paepcke Park during the summer. “Everyone is so extreme with their outdoor activities here, and yoga is an amazing complement to that,” he says. “My class is challenging, but I also weave in a little spirituality to remind people that it’s a gift to live here.”