Join Cory for this special weekend of lecture, discussion, and practice focused on the common ground of yoga and Buddhism. We will draw from the teachings of Patanjali and the Buddha along with contemporary teachers like Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Joseph Goldstein, Richard Freeman and Lama Willa Blythe Baker. Our time together will be interspersed with guided meditations ranging from 3 to 30 minutes with plenty of time for group discussion and support.

Special guests: Kory Sheffer, founder of Alchemy Studio and Ashtanga Yoga Cleveland Heights, and Marque Garaux, founder of Great Lakes Ashtanga have partnered together to host this very special event. They will both be assisting Cory in morning Mysore practices and will lend support throughout the weekend!

Weekend Schedule

Registration

Friday May 17 Morning Yoga

Mysore Ashtanga Class with Cory Bryant
(with assistance from Kory Sheffer & Marque Garaux)
6:00 - 9:30 AM * Times may shift according to attendance

Ashtanga Yoga is a breath and movement system that focuses on three key elements (tristhana): posture, breath, and drishti (looking place) to facilitate an inward exploration of one’s being. This system of yoga practice is grounded in the eight limbs compiled by the great sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. These include a variety of techniques that include yamas (ethics), niyamas (self care), asana (posturing), pranayama (breath), pratyahara (sensory control), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (enlightened view).
Students begin an Ashtanga practice by learning the Primary Series in a progressive manner through individual guidance and instruction. The teacher guides students through the series at a pace that is appropriate for the student to adapt and become proficient in foundational postures before adding more challenging ones.

All are welcome to join Mysore Classes with Cory - even those who do not have an established Ashtanga yoga practice.

Friday May 17 Evening Workshop - 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Yoga is Meditation

The Buddha referred to “the body in the body”when providing his seminal direction on how to meditate in the Satipatthana Sutta. As practitioners of yogāsana we develop a strong understanding of just what he meant, but this often goes underappreciated. In this session we will explore this teaching and how it is supported by our time doing postures on the mat.
Cory will introduce the śamatha (calm abiding) method of meditation and lead a short sitting practice followed by Q&A.

Registration

Saturday May 18 Morning Yoga

Mysore Ashtanga Class with Cory Bryant
(with assistance from Kory Sheffer & Marque Garaux)
6:00 - 9:30 AM * Times may shift according to attendance

Ashtanga Yoga is a breath and movement system that focuses on three key elements (tristhana): posture, breath, and drishti (looking place) to facilitate an inward exploration of one’s being. This system of yoga practice is grounded in the eight limbs compiled by the great sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. These include a variety of techniques that include yamas (ethics), niyamas (self care), asana (posturing), pranayama (breath), pratyahara (sensory control), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (enlightened view).
Students begin an Ashtanga practice by learning the Primary Series in a progressive manner through individual guidance and instruction. The teacher guides students through the series at a pace that is appropriate for the student to adapt and become proficient in foundational postures before adding more challenging ones.

All are welcome to join Mysore Classes with Cory - even those who do not have an established Ashtanga yoga practice.

Saturday May 18 Afternoon Workshop 1:00 - 3:30 PM

Yoga & Buddhism: Common Ground

1:00 - 2:00 PM - A dive into the teachings of the Buddha and Patanjali with an emphasis on a couple key areas of commonality that are especially meaningful to yogāsana practitioners. We’ll continue to explore śamatha and Cory will lead a short sitting practice followed by Q&A.

2-2:15pm Break

Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhist Approach: Good Fit for Ashtanga

2:15-3:30 pm - A distinguishing feature of both Tibetan Buddhism and Ashtanga Yoga is their shared tantric roots. In this session Cory will introduce the theory behind tantra – and don’t worry, it’s not the erotic mumbo jumbo that’s often associated with tantra – and how we can benefit from this aspect of practice.
We’ll wrap up the day with a 30 minute guided meditation that invites you to explore open awareness followed by time for sharing/Q&A.

Registration

Sunday May 19 Morning Yoga

Mysore Ashtanga Class with Cory Bryant
(with assistance from Kory Sheffer & Marque Garaux)
6:00 - 9:30 AM * Times may shift according to attendance

Ashtanga Yoga is a breath and movement system that focuses on three key elements (tristhana): posture, breath, and drishti (looking place) to facilitate an inward exploration of one’s being. This system of yoga practice is grounded in the eight limbs compiled by the great sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. These include a variety of techniques that include yamas (ethics), niyamas (self care), asana (posturing), pranayama (breath), pratyahara (sensory control), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (enlightened view).
Students begin an Ashtanga practice by learning the Primary Series in a progressive manner through individual guidance and instruction. The teacher guides students through the series at a pace that is appropriate for the student to adapt and become proficient in foundational postures before adding more challenging ones.

All are welcome to join Mysore Classes with Cory - even those who do not have an established Ashtanga yoga practice.

Sunday May 19 Afternoon Workshop 1:00 - 3:30 PM

From the Mat to the Cushion

1:00 - 2:00 PM - Here we’ll explore the transition from the mat to the cushion. It’s quite common to consider these as separate, even unrelated, practices — asana and meditation, but they don’t have to be. There can be so much meditative value gleaned from movement-based practice. We’ll use this time to look at how to approach this integration and elevate the impact of our time on the mat. This session will include some asana practice – nothing major, just simple sun salutation and standing postures. Please bring your mat.

2-2:15pm Break

Focusing on the Cushion

2:15 - 3:30 PM - This last session will focus on bringing it all together with two meditations interspersed with inspirational teachings from great masters including the Buddha and Patanjali. We’ll explore ways to make meditation something you look forward to! We’ll wrap up the weekend with time for sharing and Q&A.

*Note, meditations will be included throughout the sessions and range from 5 to max 30 minutes each. Cory will spend some time with sitting posture options to ensure everyone is as comfortable as possible. So, not to worry if you don’t have a regular sitting practice — this will be a great opportunity to explore developing one!

Community Meal

3:30 - 5:00 PM - We’ll end our weekend together with community bonding, sharing, and a light vegetarian meal provided by Alchemy Studio.
*Open to students who have participated in at least two sessions. No “drop ins”

Registration

Tuition

FULL WEEKEND: $330.00

Single MYSORE CLASS: $65.00

Single WORKSHOP: $65.00

After April 15 Single Class passes will increase by $10.00

Registration

About Cory Bryant…

Cory Bryant is the Founder of Yoga Shala Nashville – Ashtanga Yoga in East Nashville, TN and The Spiritual Pilgrim – yoga & meditation pilgrimages in Nepal, India and soon, Bhutan. His yoga journey took root at Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City just after 9/11 in 2001 and hasn’t stopped since. A practitioner of Ashtanga for over ten years, he’s been teaching yoga for 16 years and has studied intensively with David Life, Sharon Gannon, David Garrigues and Tim Miller and more recently Tim Feldmann. A PhD scientist and a student of Tibetan Buddhism, he draws from his understanding of the scientific method to explore the intersections between Buddhism and yoga to provide an integrative approach to practice and life. Cory has made 12 trips to Nepal since 2010 where he has taken up extensive study and practice. After a successful career in international food policy he and his husband relocated from DC to Nashville in 2019 where they live with their three dogs, Buddy, Bella & Puja. IG: @yogashalanashville @the_spiritual_pilgrim @coryyoga

Exploring Yoga & Buddhism - Where the mat meets the cushion. A weekend with Cory Bryant of Yoga Shala Nashville & The Spiritual Pilgrim.