Brianna Zeigler

I began practicing yoga over ten years ago. My parents had some videos and I eventually started going to classes at the health club. Not long after, my dad found an instructor in Minneapolis he really liked. I started making the drive every once in a while. There was something different about practicing yoga in the presence of others- their energy improved my practice. The following years were touch and go. At one point I left my mat for an entire year! 

I recently moved to Winona (a small town in Minnesota) after working in St. Paul, attending college in Iowa, graduate school in Michigan and serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania. I completed my 200 hour level training with Hilaire Lockwood at Hilltop Yoga in Haslett, Michigan. I originally wanted to do the training because I wanted to learn more about yoga. I ended up find out that teaching opens my heart in a way that my practice alone cannot. I am currently near the completion of my 500 hour certification at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis. I have done an additional Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner. Over the years I have learned in workshop setting from Doug Swenson, Maty Ezraty, Rod Stryker and Gary Kraftsow. 

Yoga has ultimately created space for me to find both strength and softness within, allowing me to discover more about my authentic self as well as to love the world more freely. I am deeply committed to practicing all eight limbs of yogic tradition.

I was originally trained to teach Vinyasa. While some classes can be physically demanding, they flow slowly and are accessible to all levels, even beginners. All my vinyasa classes include intention setting, breath work and plenty of space for meditation and relaxation. I also teach Yin Yoga. Yin is a slower, quieter and deeper meditation practice where yielding into poses is encouraged.  Yin poses are held longer allowing deeper penetration into the fascia, connective tissues and joints. Additionally, I lead classes that explore different methods of meditation that utilize pranyama (breathing practices), mudras (hand postures), creative visualization, sounds, reflection, and yoga nidra.  Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation that has the potential to lead you into a conscious deep sleep (or dreamless sleep state).  It is done in the supine position consists of guiding awareness to different parts of the body.  It has been found to reduce tension, anxiety and depression. 

I love yoga and meditation so much. I love that every time we come to our mats, our bodies, minds and spirits are different. The only thing we can ever count on- is that nothing is constant. We need to take time to be exactly where we are in the most present moment, so that we can connect with our true selves to find contentment and bliss.