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 A Note From BrianBrian's BiographyWho's YOUR GURU?™TestimonialsLibrary |
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 Testimonials In their own words...
I am a mom of 3, in my 40's and I work part time. My exercise routine until 4 months ago involved going out for a 4 to 5 mile run 3 to 4 times a week. Running was perfect; quick, cleared my head and I could do it anywhere! In the fall running got harder. My joints hurt and my back was killing me! I tried a few core classes but my back would feel like a piece of straw, ready to snap at any moment! (I did throw my back out a few times, doing very ordinary "life" things. I would be down and out for a full week…and in pain.)
It all started about a year ago when I was at an all time low mentally, my energy was gone and I was completely physically out of shape as well. I was in a poisonous job environment that became harder and harder to face everyday. I had seen Brian's web site about 6 months earlier but did not have the courage to do anything. As things progressively got worse I knew that I had to do something fast and so in December I remembered his site, and pulled up the questionnaire. It was when I pushed that send button that I knew in my heart that I had taken the first step and changed my path. At our first meeting Brian asked me what it was that I was looking for. I told him that I had completely lost my center and who I was, he told me I had come to the right place and I knew right then I was in good hands. I started from ground minus zero training my body to do things I had never done before (like an old dog learning new tricks). It was about a month later that I started to feel a shift within. I had this horrible premonition nightmare and knew that the only option I had left was to completely put myself in God's hands. With nothing left inside of me I went into the office the next morning. By 11:30 am I had become part of many worldwide layoffs. The reactions I got from family and friends were of relief and congratulations….I guess that I had been in worse shape then I realized. I contacted Brian and he told me that this was one of the best things that could have happened to my spirit and that this was not unusual but a passage of waking up that he has witnessed many times.  With his advice I started to come to class 5 days a week working physically harder then I had ever done before. All the changes that I've made like losing 25lbs, no more medications, a better energy and mind set were possible through his instruction, patience and constantly pushing me to move forward and grow, even when I thought I could not. He kept me focused and structured especially when I had so much new freedom that I could have been swallowed up. It definitely has been a life-altering path of which I feel very blessed to have been given this opportunity and experience. Now, I am exploring many different avenues that I thought I had lost such as photography, creating purses and designing yoga bags. I have found that the more I am open the more possibilities become available. Thanks to Brian I have a new connection to Spirit and self. Most Graciously,  Donna Davie 
I remember when I was fearless and each day was an adventure -- a really long time ago. I remember feeling that I was trapped in a think cloud of fog and mist. I remember the immediate effects of stopping my daily dose of Paxil and the lingering effects that took many months to fade away (always talk to your doctor before discontinuing any antidepressant). I remember 2 surgeries in 4 months and the reality that I would never bear children. And I remember my first yoga class with Yogi Brian... A Saturday morning, 9 am a little over a year ago and wow am I nervous - a part of Norwalk with which I'm not familiar, a group class in which I know not one single person, an activity that's a mystery to me, and the list goes on. A close friend found Yogi Brian's web site and suggested we try yoga together however she decided not to join me for our first yoga class. I'm thinking why did I ever agree to do this by myself???
 It's been a little over a year since that first yoga class with Yogi Brian and the person I am today is quite different from the one in her first yoga class that Saturday morning. What I've learned from Yogi Brian on my journey so far:
  Linda Clarkson
I have been working with Yogi Brian for quite a few years now, in fact, I came to Brian when he was still in process of becoming a Yogi. At that time, I was stuck in a rut. Even though I was in my late thirties, I was still doing the same things I did twenty years ago when I played football for the University of Michigan. For me it was all about getting pumped up, throwing around big pieces of iron, showing off. I had convinced myself that it was a positive, healthy pursuit, but I really was just clinging to the past. I was firmly in my comfort zone, and I didn't want to change even though it was pretty obvious I wasn't getting what I needed. I may have been strong on the outside, but I was getting progressively weaker on the inside. I was expending energy, but I had no way of replenishing it. It seemed like the harder I worked, the worse I felt. I couldn't figure it out. Fortunately, as Brian walked further down the path of being a Yogi, he invited me to make the journey with him. I was more than a little hesitant; I mean Yoga wasn't for big tough guys like me, was it? Wouldn't I look and feel silly? But I trusted Brian, so I put aside my fear and gave it a shot. While there certainly was a period of adjustment, it didn't take long for me to realize that this was one of the best decisions I ever made. Through his yoga teachings, Brian has given me a tremendous gift, everything I didn't know that I always wanted. I have found inner peace and greater balance than I ever thought possible. I can now tap into the natural, pure, sweet energy that is all around us whenever I need it. I am happier and physically healthier than any other time in my adult life.  Yogi Brian has shown me real strength. It is about being resilient; not applying brute force. I used to try and wrestle with my problems and stress, but all I did was thrash around and flounder. Brian has taught be to be like the tree branch that falls into a river. It doesn't try to overpower the rapids; it rides them out and soon finds itself floating gently on calm waters. I would encourage anyone who has not done so to seek out Yogi Brian. Peace, happiness and health can be yours; you just have to be willing to take the plunge.  Rob dePalma
My first exposure to Yoga was back in 1976, when I was 8 years old. My aunt was studying and practicing Yoga and had just opened a studio in East Hampton, NY. Back then, my view of Yoga was one of curiosity. I noticed how calm and peaceful she looked while practicing. I became a long distance runner while living in NYC in my early 20s. I loved the feeling it gave me during and after a long run. I felt a type of calm come over me while running. I continued to run throughout my 30s and also took some Pilates classes, as well as one or two Yoga classes. I was searching for something to balance out my running. I contacted Yogi Brian after the birth of my 2nd son, in 2005. I had looked at his website countless times and was intrigued by his philosophy and the practice of Yoga. I could not commit to taking the class at that point. I continued running, but felt there was something missing. In April of 2008, I contacted Yogi Brian again and signed up, taking his Saturday morning class. The energy in Brian's studio was so tangible that I was instantly moved into another place. It was at that point that I found the missing piece. I had found my balance. 
It has been almost a year since I have taken that first class with Yogi Brian. My practice has gone beyond the walls of the Yoga studio. Through his classes, words and spiritual energy, I have realized that Yoga is not just going to a class and doing some poses. The practice of Yoga can penetrate all aspects of ones life. It is a teaching on how to live. It has showed me how important balance is in everyone's lives. This quote from the book Hatha Yoga Pradipika now rings true and it is something I will continue to strive towards. "The main objective of hatha yoga is to create an absolute balance of the interacting activities and processes of the physical body, mind and energy". As I continue along my Yogic journey, I am grateful to have Yogi Brian's as a place to reconnect, center and balance. Thank you Yogi Brian,  Kristen Leavitt
I stopped practicing yoga after five years of training when I became pregnant, due to the fact that I couldn't find a teacher with the flexibility to welcome pregnant women into a group class, until I connected with Yogi Brian. I was initially drawn to his openness to prenatal yoga, but his precision and virtuosity bring my practice to a higher level.  I feel calmer and happier than I have felt in any other studio, where he encourages students' progress, gracefully. Aside from being the only Connecticut based teacher with confidence to safely guide pregnant women through the four levels of Dharma Mittra Yoga, I feel comfortable bringing beginners with me as well, which is how yoga should be, a union. With his guidance, I have become more comfortable in my transforming body and have been feeling love and excitement for my healthy, growing baby boy during my pregnancy. More than ever, my passion is to become a certified yoga teacher someday. So I can too, brilliantly guide others in connection of their mind, body and spirit. Truly,  Briana Pennell
Participating in Yogi Brian’s classes regularly has inspired a dramatic deepening to my daily yoga practice through exposure to numerous unexplored, physically challenging asana (posture) variations, reconnecting with pranayama (breathing) practices, exploring joint opening exercises offered in a gentle class, or the use of exercise balls to message and peacefully loosen the body and develop core strength. Yogi Brian has an incredible knowledge of the human body and with encouragement, assistance and/or modifications to asanas leads the student beyond perceived physical limits. The environment created by this teacher, and fellow students, is one in which a strong, supportive collective consciousness is created. His classes are full of encouragement to attain your greatest self, genuine compassion; are free from judgment, and welcoming to all. I always leave class in a better place physically, mentally, and spiritually then when I arrived (and always with a blissful smile). 
It is said that the right teacher will be presented to you at the right moment. Any aspirant who has found their way to this teacher’s doorstep is here for a reason and I whole heartedly encourage any and all those interested in exploring or expanding a yoga practice to find their way to Yogi Brian. Yogi Brain reflects the light of our Guru, Sri Dharma Mittra, while shining radiantly from his own light within. I feel infinitely blessed and offer my sincerest gratitude to Yogi Brian for providing the opportunity to accept the offerings he makes through teaching the divine science of Yoga. Sincerely,  Keith Metzger Dharma Yoga Teacher, 200 Hour Naugatuck, CT
I have always wanted to have a strong and consistent yoga practice. Finding a school and instructor where I felt comfortable training was always a huge obstacle for me. I have been to several places to practice yoga, I always felt on one level or another, something was missing. I had been on the website for Yogi Brian several times, but honestly felt a little intimidated by it. When I met Brian by chance one day, I sensed something different about him. He welcomed me to his school, his home, and to my first class. I knew something was unique right from the start- even the questionnaire I filled out was unusual. Brian wanted to know about ME- not just physically, but about my goals, my strengths, my weaknesses, my past injuries, even what music I liked! He is the type of mentor that thinks about his students in his spare time striving to help us grow and to find exactly what we are capable of accomplishing. He has a passion and excitement for yoga and the lifestyle that is special, unique and completely honest. He also has a strong background and knowledge in exercise science and physiology that is greatly beneficial.  From the very first class, I noticed an honest change in my self every time I practiced. The benefits I receive from yoga are not to be overlooked or underrated. I am finding a huge increase in my level of fitness that I was pressed to find with any other sport or activity I have EVER participated in. I am actively healing and working through past injuries and traumas- that I honestly believe cannot be healed in any other way. I am increasing my consciousness and working towards finding a balance and harmony within myself and the universe with Yogi Brian as a guide. I look forward to each class with no expectations or limitations- just an open heart and mind. Sincerely,  Elizabeth Grady Tae Kwon Do Black Belt, Snowboarder and Rock Climber
I have always been an active person...skiing, biking, running. Over the years I had a few surgeries when necessary to heal a torn ligament. Rehab was quick and easy...I was back to being active in no time. But I was not prepared for the mental injury of separation and divorce after 7 years of marriage. We have two small children and I knew I had to prepare myself to be there for them through this difficult time. My personal trainer recommended Brian for yoga. I had done yoga off and on during the years. When I called Brian for more info on the classes, he spent 30 minutes on the telephone interviewing me. I was quite surprised that I started telling him all about my personal situation, but somehow he knew I has hurting inside and wanted to learn as much about me as possible. This translated into sessions that included meditation, prayer, and time in nature...that was just as important to me as the poses to help me get focused for the future.  Yogi Brian also thinks ahead to the next class and offers me more reflective thoughts to make me stronger. After months of anguish dealing with the pain of divorce, I am starting to see light at the end of the tunnel and I know in the end I will be a better and stronger person. Sincerely,  Reide Rosen
To me, one of the best feelings in the world occurs when your mind and body act as one, by way of an intense focus that feels like a bit of a daze. I recall the beginning of my show jumping (horses) career when I achieved this focus with frequency, simply due to a one-track mind, but as years passed and riding turned into a business and a job, this place of connectedness eluded me. A few years ago, I found myself in a very draining work environment, overcommitted most of the time, and gradually losing touch with myself. Not only was my life unsustainable, it wasn’t satisfying, and I was finding it harder and harder to commit my mind to my riding. A friend of mine casually mentioned Yogi Brian one day during a work out and the name stuck in my head. Upon investigating his website I decided to ‘trek’ (it was over an hour for me) up to Norwalk and check it out. I already had a somewhat regular Yoga practice in my life and was aware that yoga wasn’t just another ‘weight loss’ plan or a way to tone up; Yoga is a deep connection with one’s self and with the universe, and consequently, when you find a space and a guru that generate the kind of energy that you respond to, no distance is too far to travel.  Yogi Brian consistently led me through beautiful asana sequences that challenged my body while feeding my mind. His dedication and thoughtfulness to my individual practice encouraged my personal growth. I started to understand the power that a natural state of calmness and focus can have and learned how to cultivate this centered state myself. I began to take the peace that I created in Yoga class to the saddle, and found clarity and focus while riding again. I became receptive to the energy around me and realized that I was in the wrong geographical place (work environment) and had the courage to make a change. Yogi Brian’s confident, concise, clear words resonated in my mind and helped me to realize what I already knew inside. I left my job and returned to school fulltime. I became a certified Dharma Mittra Yoga Teacher myself and have been blessed to share this beautiful style of Yoga with others. I have committed time and energy to humanitarian work as well as to saving the planet and most importantly to fostering a healthy relationship with myself. I am so grateful that our paths in this world have crossed. During the Life of A Yogi Teacher Training with Dharma Mittra and his students, I recall them speaking about how students will find their teacher at a time that is appropriate for them, and I truly feel that I met my teacher just when I needed to most. Thank you Yogi Brian for all that you teach me,  Allison Smith Chatham, New York Dharma Yoga Teacher, 200 Hour
I often wonder why it took me 50 years to find Yoga, but Yogi Brian has helped me come to understand that everything happens for a reason and that good things come to us when we are ready to accept them. The decade of my forties was consumed with running. Running made me feel strong; it provided a needed boost to my self-esteem (after all, not every forty-year-old woman can say she qualified for and finished three sub-3:45 Boston Marathons, and one in 3:31); it had a way of masking my insecurities and fears; and it gave me a daily refuge from a very busy life as a full-time teacher, wife, and mother of three. Several times in the past I had (fleetingly) considered Yoga. I certainly had heard about its benefits, but I just had not been able to wrap my head around it as a way of getting exercise. Exercise to me meant a prolonged elevated heart rate and lifting weights to build muscle. Besides, who has the time to sit on a mat? Certainly not me. I had my weekly mileage goal to meet! Running was a metaphor for my life: go faster and push harder.  While my hamstring injury forced me to stop running (temporarily, I rationalized), the Yoga mat allowed me to let go for good. And Yogi Brian has guided me to live the physical and spiritual benefits of Yoga. I have learned some challenging and fun poses, I am stronger than I have ever been (using only my own body weight as resistance), and Yoga’s body of knowledge humbles me. But, there is much, much more that I am only beginning to tap into. Now six months into my Yoga practice with Yogi Brian (which includes a weekly private) I am learning to balance the challenge of approaching my edge in each pose and honoring my body and what it needs. I can hold a pose and stay calm; I can lie still in savasana; and I am comfortable observing my thoughts. Who would have thought! This is all possible because of the trust I have developed in Yogi Brian; he is non-judgmental, deeply knowledgeable about anatomy and Yogic teaching, and, I believe, he sincerely cares about my journey. Finally, Yogi Brian is helping me uncover my spiritual side. Since I have never been religious, the notion of getting in touch with "my Higher Power" is a new experience. Again, he doesn’t judge; he simply makes available to me as much as he senses I am asking for. As Lance Armstrong said, "It’s not about the bike." It’s about the intention, not the end, and the true intention of a Yoga practice is self-knowledge and liberation. Yogi Brian gives me the permission to explore and discover without the pressure of failure. Namaste,  Meg Krause
The impact that Yogi Brian has made on me has been immediate, dramatic and profound. I left my first class thoroughly exhilarated and proceeded to bring the juicer out of hibernation. Simultaneously I felt compelled to undergo a thorough purge of my space. I am in the process of a complete metamorphosis as a result of this practice; a physical and spiritual liberation.
As a dedicated Yoga instructor and student who has taught and studied all over the world, I feel very blessed to find such a resource as Yogi Brian, right here in my home state. As word about Yogi Brian spread amongst groups of my students and friends, who were carpooling and driving several hours to attend his workshops, I became curious.
Thank you Yogi Brian and Colleen for allowing me a place to express my gratitude for all that you've shared with me. I have studied and practiced Yoga for ten years and have met wonderful teachers. But, as many Yoga students know, certain gifted teachers have the capacity to inspire and heal. Yogi Brian is one of these teachers. |
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