Explore, Connect & Grow: 6-Day Yoga Retreat in France with Emery Bryant I

My path to becoming a yoga instructor began with a deep interest in the anatomy and physiology of the human body long before I ever took my first yoga class. My collegiate studies in the fields of Biology & Health Promotion and Wellness Management have provided me with extensive knowledge and understanding of body mechanics. I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology in 2002 and a Master of Science in Health Promotion and Wellness Management in 2020. In the years between the completion of my bachelor’s degree & the master’s degree, my attention focused on yoga as well as other forms of movement and exercise. My love of learning was satisfied with numerous certifications, hands-on training, and employment in the fitness industry. I draw from my science education and years of experience teaching fitness classes to make sure every yoga session addresses the individual needs of the student in a safe and effective manner. In 2007, I earned an RYT yoga instructor certification in the VariYoga style. VariYoga was developed by the collaborative effort of Andrea Fournet and Bryan Fowler of the Arkansas Yoga Center in Fayetteville, AR. VariYoga (short for “variety”) was born from Andrea’s and Bryan’s 25 years combined teaching experience and is influenced by the styles of Iyengar, Anusara and Viniyoga, creating a non-dogmatic practice that recognizes “one size does not fit all”. In my yoga classes I draw from this well-rounded training to help students, particularly beginners, modify the practice to suit their individual needs. After many years and hundreds of hours on the mat as a student and teacher, I found myself looking for ways to deepen my personal practice both externally, exploring the limits of my physical capabilities, as well as internally, developing stronger mental concentration and focus. What I found was Ashtanga yoga. Ashtanga (the original “Power Yoga”) is a very dynamic, focused, and vigorous style of yoga, sure to challenge even the most seasoned athlete and dedicated yogi. Since completing the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series teacher training course with Wade and Kathleen Mortenson of Maya Yoga in Kansas City, I enjoy helping motivated students take their yoga practice and fitness level to new heights. My Vinyasa yoga classes have continued to evolve over the years with the addition of each new training and learning experience. The Core Strength Vinyasa training with Sadie Nardini helped me take the basic principles of Vinyasa flow and teach them in a way that allows students to connect to the core of the poses on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and energetic. My most recent yoga certification has taught me to apply my knowledge and experience to the demanding needs of a specific population, collegiate athletes. Thanks to my Power Yoga for Sports and RYT 500 training under the tutelage of Gwen Lawrence, yoga instructor to the New York Giants and countless other professional athletes, I’ve had the unique opportunity to work with numerous university athletic programs. The physical and mental demands placed on young competitive athletes are great and the benefits of a regular yoga practice are apparent. I lead teams such as volleyball, basketball, swimming & diving, softball, and golf in sport specific yoga sessions to complement their training regimen. Both the coaches and student athletes alike are seeing the positive effects of yoga on flexibility, balance, core stability, injury prevention and mental focus paying off on the court, field, or in the pool! In addition to teaching yoga in a studio setting, private lessons and offering yoga teacher training, I am also a full-time faculty member at Missouri State University. I teach Yoga, Healthy Lifestyles and Exercise Physiology. Although yoga always has been, and continues to be, my first love as well as my area of specialty, my training and experience in various other fitness modalities has deepened my understanding of exercise physiology and made me a better yoga instructor. As an instructor of Pilates, TRX Suspension Training and SilverSneakers, I work with a wide range of clients from pre-teens to retirees, from the inactive to the fitness enthusiast. No two bodies are alike, but everyone can benefit from an individualized and intelligently constructed yoga practice. 15+ years after embarking on my yoga journey I find that, even though I’m consistently growing stronger, increasing flexibility, and gaining balance, when it comes to my yoga practice (or life for that matter) the challenges never cease, the awakening is never complete, and there is always something more to discover…that’s what draws me back to the mat day after day.