Uncover the person behind trendy Energy Yoga—from Detroit to Ojai, from Santa Monica studios to international on-line streams.
Who’s Bryan Kest?
Born in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan, Bryan Kest started his yoga journey at simply 14 years previous. His father, a doctor, believed deeply within the mind-body connection and inspired Bryan to discover yoga as a holistic observe. This early affect would form a lifetime of educating and transformation.
At 16, Bryan moved to Hawaii to check below David Williams, the primary to convey Ashtanga Yoga to the West. Later, Kest would journey to Mysore, India to check with the legendary Okay. Pattabhi Jois, founding father of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
Returning to the U.S., Bryan attended Ryokan School and commenced integrating his yoga with research in holistic well being and remedy—notably for these with consuming issues. His first educating gig? Serving to shoppers at Esteem Clinic in Santa Monica.
Disclosure:
This text relies on my private expertise with Bryan Kest’s Energy Yoga, together with his on-line lessons by way of PowerYoga.com and his ebook
Autobiography of an American Yogi. I’ve personally examined his streaming platform to supply an trustworthy perspective and brought numerous stay,
packed, superb lessons at his sweaty Santa Monica Studio whereas it was open.
Some hyperlinks on this submit are affiliate hyperlinks, which implies I’ll earn a small fee—at no further value to you.
Tried & examined: our evaluation of PowerYoga.com
Need to know if Bryan Kest’s on-line yoga is value it? We put it to the check.
In our in-depth evaluation of PowerYoga.com, we discover:
- Streaming class selection (on-demand, stay, workshops)
- Platform usability & cellular responsiveness
- Bryan’s educating fashion vs. different instructors
- Pricing, worth, and donation-based entry
Spoiler: It’s minimalist, genuine, and deeper than only a exercise.
• Learn the complete PowerYoga On-line evaluation by our workforce »
What’s Energy Yoga based on Bryan Kest?
Bryan coined the time period Energy Yoga within the late ’80s—to not describe a brutal exercise, however to mirror the empowering impact of the observe.
“Energy Yoga just isn’t about fancy poses. It’s about cultivating qualities of the thoughts—gratitude, humility, calmness—that truly affect our well being and happiness.” — Bryan Kest
Kest emphasizes that almost all illness is psychosomatic—originating within the thoughts. So whereas his lessons supply a bodily difficult circulation, the deeper focus is on psychological conditioning: studying to pause, breathe, and reply mindfully.
His strategy challenges the ego, not simply the physique. Whether or not it’s taking youngster’s pose or resisting the urge to compete, every second on the mat is an opportunity to feed the thoughts qualities you wish to develop.
Watch an interview with Bryan Kest right here Energy Yoga
From Santa Monica to Ojai: A Yoga motion evolves
In 1995, Bryan based Santa Monica Energy Yoga (Bodily Studio closed in Could 2018… I used to be there crying for his final class), a studio recognized for its uncooked authenticity and community-driven strategy.
With no flashy branding, it thrived on word-of-mouth and the facility of the observe itself.
At this time, Bryan lives within the mountains close to Ojai, California and teaches via his platform PowerYoga.com, providing stay and on-demand lessons to yogis world wide.
He continues to journey for retreats and workshops, however the digital shift has allowed his teachings to achieve international audiences, sustaining intimacy whereas scaling affect.
Bryan Kest’s donation-based philosophy
Kest’s enterprise mannequin is as revolutionary as his teachings. Impressed by Vipassana meditation retreats, Bryan made his lessons donation-based.
“If there’s sufficient within the field, we proceed. If not, we belief. Yoga is about belief.”
Academics at his studio used to pay hire for his or her class slots however hold 100% of donations—making a sustainable mannequin that empowers entrepreneurial instructors.
This generosity-first strategy extends to companies like Yogitoes (bought to Manduka), which he helped incubate via the studio’s infrastructure.
Additionally learn>>> Six sitting strategies for practising meditation
Attend a Energy Yoga grasp class
The most effective methods to expertise Bryan’s educating at present is thru his workshops. For instance:
• Energy Yoga Grasp Class with Bryan Kest
• The place? : Shefayoga Venice | TBD, go to our web page once more quickly for subsequent stay class schedule in Venice.
$45 (Save 10% if paired with the Lengthy, Gradual, Deep Workshop)
This 2-hour session fuses lecture, meditation, and bodily asana observe. It’s not only a exercise—it’s a deep dive into yogic mindset.
Parking: $2 with validation at Venice Renaissance.
His ebook: Autobiography of an American Yogi
Bryan’s memoir is a component reflection, half dharma speak. Informed in brief, meditative chapters, the ebook presents a uncooked, humorous, and heartfelt look into his life.
“The one approach to decide your progress in yoga is how little you decide something.” — Bryan Kest.
It’s not only a story; it’s a transmission of 40 years of observe. When you’re curious concerning the man behind the mat, this ebook is the proper companion.
Learn our full ebook evaluation right here »
The place to observe with Bryan Kest
- PowerYoga.com – On-Demand and live-streamed lessons
- YouTube – Free flows, interviews, and insights
- Retreats – World workshops with a give attention to simplicity and transformation
- In-Studio – Shefayoga in Venice (see above schedule)
Bryan Kest’s life off the mat
Bryan Kest is a father of 4. He shares three youngsters along with his ex-wife, Jazmine Pierre-Lys, whom he divorced in 2015. At this time, he lives within the mountains close to Ojai, California, along with his present companion Melissa and their youngster.
This quiet life in nature displays the meditative philosophy that guides his yoga: simplicity, presence, and belief. It’s right here that he runs PowerYoga.com, streams stay lessons, and continues to evolve the observe he began over 40 years in the past.
Last ideas
Bryan Kest redefined yoga not by complicating it, however by simplifying it—bringing it again to presence, honesty, and interior energy.
Whether or not you’re a seasoned yogi or simply getting began, Bryan’s teachings supply a refreshing various to performance-based yoga tradition. His voice is one in all integrity, consistency, and deep compassion—for the physique and, extra importantly, the thoughts.
“Enterprise, like yoga, is only a reflection of your individual interior state.” — Bryan Kest
