Co-Owner Bios
Bryana Cook
Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats Co-Owner
LICSW, E-RYT 500, YACEP, Wilderness First Aid Certified
Bryana lives deep in the northwoods in tiny Longville, MN with her husband, two young children, dog, cat, chickens, and gardens.
She is passionate about pursuing outdoor adventure, and loves to celebrate the pairing/benefits of yoga, meditation, and breathwork. As a licensed mental health professional, she loves to connect people with the enormous benefits of yoga and nature.
Bryana enjoys teaching gentle and fluid vinyasa classes. Yoga philosophy and the subtle benefits of consistent practice are elements that she can never learn enough about.
For nearly a decade, she takes an annual trek into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) with her friend, Nora. Each year the peace & adventure of this raw wilderness revives her in unexplainable ways.
In addition to Boreal Bliss, Bryana is also founder/owner of Northern Yoga and Wellness and a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISCW).
(Fun fact: Bryana’s husband Dan Ryan is a fishing guide in the Leech Lake area. You can find his info here.)
Amanda Imes
Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats Co-Owner
MS, E-RYT 200, COREPOWER YOGA SCULPT
Amanda is a master at creating a welcoming group space. She loves to inspire writing and meaningful conversation.
Amanda teaches gentle yoga and vinyasa yoga. While you may move fast-paced in her vinyasa classes, she keeps things light, upbeat, and fun. She loves breaking away from strict, straight lines and tapping into creative, fluid movements.
Amanda is an economist for the State of MN; twice each year she helps produce a forecast of Minnesota’s state General Fund revenues and expenditures for current and future bienniums. Amanda turned to yoga in 2009 to balance stress and anxiety and fell in love with the practice.
Amanda lives in Duluth, MN and enjoys reading, hiking, camping, running, working out, laughing, travel, and spending time with her husband, two young children, and dog. She is also an ajunct professor at the College of St. Scholastica where she teaches Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics.
Amanda was certified to teach Yoga Sculpt through CorePower Yoga in 2014. She obtained her 200 RYT certification through a 250 hour trauma informed training at the House of the Gathering Yoga School in Duluth.