Bryan Kest

Born in 1964, Bryan Kest has been practicing yoga since 1979, starting when he was 14 years old.

He initially studied in Hawaii with David Williams, the first person to bring Ashtanga yoga to America. He then studied in India with K. Pattabhi Jois, the main proponent of Ashtanga yoga.

Bryan Kest has been teaching yoga since 1985. “My primary objective”, says Kest, “besides turning more and more people on to a healthier, more peaceful lifestyle that continually challenges them to grow, is to teach a system of exercise that fully integrates the body, mind, and spirit.

The new trend towards yoga is not surprising, given that the body is limited and the mind is limitless. The combination of body and mind creates an incredibly broad range of fulfillment, including top physical condition and a calm, peaceful, clear mind.”

I’ve been practicing yoga since 1979. I started in Hawaii that year with David Williams and Brad Ramsey in the 2nd ashtanga yoga class in the world outside of India. The 1st ashtanga class was another class David Williams started in Encinitas, CA that he disbanded to move to Hawaii (Maui) where I was living and attending his and Brad’s class. This was a great intro to yoga. It seems like the flower children of the ’60s had opened some spiritual doors for western culture. David, Brad, and all the people we were hanging out with (all at least 15 years my senior) were all looking to explore yoga a little deeper. We were all experimenting with something very new.