Our Story
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, 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 around them.
All of our retreats take place in Minnesota’s wilderness. We enjoy seeking out new locations that will create fresh experiences for our guests. Our home base is Deep Portage Learning Center in tiny little Hackensack, MN. We host 1-2 retreats in this incredible space per year. One of our favorite locations is at Birchwood Wilderness Camp, located on the edge of the Boundary Waters.
We specialize in creating opportunities to feel fully engaged with life through immersion in outdoor experiences.
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 scars 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 create inclusive space for yoga enthusiasts to retreat into the wilderness of Northern Minnesota.
We are a proud women-owned and run small business in Northern Minnesota
Amanda Imes, Co-Owner
MS, 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 and two children.
Amanda was certified to teach Yoga Sculpt through CorePower Yoga in 2014. She’s taught around 1,000+ yoga sculpt classes in the past 8 years. She obtained her 200 RYT certification through a 250 hour trauma informed training at the House of the Gathering Yoga School in Duluth.
Bryana Cook, Co-Owner
LICSW, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP
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 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.
In addition to Boreal Bliss, Bryana is also founder/owner of Northern Yoga and Wellness.
Bryana is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISCW). She is in the midst of pursuing her 800 hour - yoga therapy certification (C-IAYT) through Inner Peace Yoga Therapy and the International Association of Yoga Therapy (IAYT).
(Fun fact: Bryana’s husband Dan Ryan is a fishing guide in the Leech Lake area. You can find his info here.)
