I've taken several classes with Patrick and it's improved my riding a great deal. I was a bike messenger and a tour guide in the Andes Mountains before this. I've been riding a long time but that just means bad habits are harder to break.
Classes are built in a structured organized way so riders understand the "why" as well as the how. I am sure everyone will have an "ah ha!" moment during their session.
I've seen other, very novice, riders progress so much over the course of a weekend that I wouldn't have believed it has I not seen it with my own eyes. This rider had never ridden a mountain bike before and was confidently clearing 5 foot gaps by the end of the weekend.
Do yourself a favor, take a shortcut to progress.