Cory Michael Bryant

Cory Bryant is the Founder and Director of The Spiritual Pilgrim, offering yoga, meditation, pilgrimage throughout Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Tibet. He is also the former Founder and Head Teacher of Yoga Shala Nashville, where he led a daily Mysore program from 2019–2025.

His yoga journey began at Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City in 2002 and has continued for more than two decades. A longtime practitioner of Jivamukti & Ashtanga Yoga, Cory has studied extensively with David Life, Sharon Gannon, David Garrigues, Tim Miller, and Tim Feldmann. He was certified to teach Jivamukti in 2008.

Alongside his yoga studies, Cory has devoted much of the past decade to the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. He has trained with Khenpo Tokpa Tulku, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, received refuge vows from Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, and became a Certified Tergar Anywhere Anytime Meditation Teacher in 2025.

Before dedicating himself fully to teaching, Cory earned a Ph.D. in Food Chemistry and spent sixteen years working in science, public policy, and international affairs. Today, he draws upon both scientific inquiry and contemplative wisdom to explore the rich intersections between Buddhism and Yoga.

Through pilgrimages, retreats, online programs, and courses on OmStars, Cory helps students cultivate greater awareness, compassion, and connection to their innate goodness.