Brock Cooper

Born and raised in Idaho, Brock grew up loving the outdoors, snowboarding, and playing soccer. He has studied several martial arts, including Wing Chun kung fu, Tai chi, Chi Kung (Qigong), and Aikido, though he discovered yoga as a way to deepen his Vipassana meditation practice. After sitting in meditation for long periods of time, the agony his body felt was enough for him to seek relief, and he felt that yoga reflected a similar mentality. “Yoga is my moving meditation to prepare me for my still meditation.”

In 2008 Brock completed Yoga Yoga's 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program. Brock’s Hatha- and Ashtanga-inspired classes are both physically and mentally challenging, as he encourages students to exercise their power of focused attention while exercising their physiology. In doing so, he hopes to create a very introspective and meditative practice through deliberate and intentional movement.

Brock primarily practices Ashtanga Yoga and has studied with David Williams, Manju jois, Sharon Moon, and Kewal. He is inspired by his Vipassana practice and the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, and Tantra, as well as the philosophy of Ken Wilber and the Integral movement.

When asked why he practices yoga, he realized that yoga tied everything together: fitness and meditation. “Once I realized this, I stopped trying to beat myself up on the mat. I decided to just let my body move through my practice with one rule: feel good.” Brock enjoys the impermanence of his yoga practice and the new insights and revelations that come up even in simple sun salutations. “My practice yesterday is gone. You have to continually do yoga to get the benefits. The more I do it, the more intimate a relationship I build with my self.”

A musician who loves jazz and holds a degree in audio engineering, Brock plays the guitar and bass, and loves traveling, camping, philosophy, art, movies, and music of all kinds.