Cory Bryant, PhD, ERYT-500
Follow Cory on IG: @coryyoga — @the_spiritual_pilgrim
His website - thespiritualpilgrim.com
His studio - Yoga Shala Nashville
Cory Bryant is the Founder of Yoga Shala Nashville and The Spiritual Pilgrim, which offers pilgrimages to Nepal, India, and Bhutan. His journey into yoga began at Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City, shortly after 9/11 in 2001, and has been on a profound and continuous path ever since. Cory has been teaching yoga since 2008 when he was certified to teach Jivamukti.
A dedicated practitioner, Cory has devoted much of the past decade to exploring the intersections between Ashtanga Yoga and Tibetan Buddhism. Dating back to 2002 he has studied intensively with renowned yoga masters such as David Life, Sharon Gannon, David Garrigues, Tim Miller, Tim Feldmann and Kino MacGregor, as well, as Tibetan lineage holders including Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche (with whom he took refuge) and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. His approach to teaching reflects not only his deep commitment to spiritual practice but also his extensive study of Yoga and Buddhism.
With a Ph.D. in Food Chemistry and a background in international food policy, Cory brings a unique perspective to his teaching, blending the precision of the scientific method with the contemplative wisdom of Buddhist philosophy. He explores the rich intersections between Buddhism and Yoga, offering an integrative approach to both practice and life.
Cory has made 14 trips to Nepal and ten trips to India since 2010, dedicating himself to extensive study and practice in these sacred lands. After a successful career in Washington, DC, including two years in Beijing, he resigned from the FDA in 2015 to pursue the study, practice and teaching of Yoga and Buddhism full-time. When not in Nepal, Cory and his dog Puja call Eddyville, Kentucky “home”.
Books recommended by Cory :
Joy of Living by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Cultivating True Compassion by Khenchen Thrangu
The Wakeful Body by Willa Blythe Baker
In Love with the World by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche