Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryana Cook
Hi Bryana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats began in February 2017 at Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack, MN. At the time, we had zero “grand plan” for how this passion project would develop. We wanted to bring women together in a welcoming environment for a feel-good weekend of yoga and outdoor experiences. Our very first yoga + nature retreat was nothing short of magical, and it left us wanting more!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As we continue to grow, and really solidified our passion as a small business over the years, we have met countless roadblocks and challenges along the way! We’ve found ourselves over and over again needing to adapt, change, and grow alongside these challenges. Typically these roadblocks have brought us back to our core values, and a realization that change and flexibility are truly the only thing we can count/work on.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We create inclusive space for yoga & nature enthusiasts to retreat into the wilderness of Northern Minnesota.
All of our retreats take place in Minnesota’s wilderness. We occasionally trek to Alaska for an epic adventure as well. We enjoy seeking out new locations that will create fresh experiences for our guests. We also love to repeat a memorable experience at a beloved venue.
We are a proud women-owned and run small business in Northern Minnesota.
Our home base is Deep Portage Learning Center in tiny little Hackensack, MN. We host 1-3 retreats per year in this incredible spot. One of our favorite locations is at Birchwood Wilderness Camp, located on the edge of the Boundary Waters, we takeover this remote camp every August. Our most plush location is Sugar Lake Lodge in Cohasset, MN.
At retreats we’ve awoken to over a foot of snow, cross-country skied during a polar vortex, spent countless nights sitting around a bonfire surrounded by deep piles of snow, watched shooting stars stream across the summer sky, and helped women learn to solo-portage canoes for the first time. We instigate laughter, simple daily appreciation, and living this one precious life to its fullest. We love our Minnesota life, and we love to share it with others.
We specialize in creating opportunities to feel fully engaged with life through immersion in yoga and outdoor experiences.
Boreal means “of the north”, pronounced: bo·ree·uhl. We believe north is a state of mind, a place in the heart. We choose to lead somewhat unconventional lives so that we can live in the wild north of Minnesota.
We love inviting others to share in the activities we love- yoga, cross country skiing, snow-shoeing, hiking, paddling & portaging canoes, rock climbing, entering the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, open-water swimming, and more.
We encourage our fellow yoga community to live seasonally in sync, to nurture the natural world and rhythm around them.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Minnesota is truly a gem. We love to encourage fellow Minnesotans (and neighbors!) to vacation in your “own backyard” (so to speak). There is so much to know and love about this stunning state. We want to explore it all, and invite you along with us!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.borealblissyogaretreats.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borealblissyogaretreats/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borealblissyogaretreats/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boreal-bliss-yoga-retreats/
