Western or allopathic medicine is all about applying bandages when we are hurt or broken. In most other cultures throughout the world, however, including Native American and Asian, the model is different. It is all about wellness, treating the whole person to prevent illness. Ayurveda and its sister science, Yoga, for example, are transformational practices that began in India 5,000 years ago.

Telluride is considered a place of natural rejuvination. We have a wide variety of health and wellness providers who have chosen to practice here because it doesn't take an MD to know that the crisp, clean mountain air will revive ones senses while the scenery will captivate the soul.

The Telluride Yoga Center has a year-round schedule that includes strong practices such as Power Yoga, Jivamukti, and Ashtanga, and more restorative practices such as Iyengar. In addition to Yoga, Telluride has several Pilates studios offering both equipment and mat classes. Want to learn pole dancing? Telluride has an instructor.
 
The Telluride Medical Center’s head of emergency medicine is also one of the top high altitude specialists in the world. Dr. Peter Hackett runs the Institute for Altitude Medicine, dedicated to wellness at altitude for the traveler, adventurer, elite athlete, and altitude residents. There are also a number of highly skilled physical therapists in town.
 
Increasingly Americans are embracing wellness practices designed to support the physical, emotional and intellectual body, such as Yoga, and Telluride is once again, in the lead. The Telluride region is a mecca for the alternative healing arts, as well as integrative healing modalities including acupuncture, reiki, and jin shin jyutsu.