Your Guides
Who is The Spiritual Pilgrim?
We are committed practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism in the lineage of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche through his sons, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche & Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. We also practice yoga in the Ashtanga & Jivamukti traditions. Together we have been sharing our love of the Nepal and the Dharma with interested folks since 2010. It’s a privilege to do this work and we’re excited about the possibility of sharing it with you!
Cory Bryant, Pilgrimage Leader/Meditation Guide
Cory Bryant is the Founder and Director of The Spiritual Pilgrim, offering yoga, meditation, pilgrimage throughout Nepal, India, and Bhutan. He is also the former Founder and Head Teacher of Yoga Shala Nashville, where he led a daily Mysore program from 2019–2025.
His yoga journey began at Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City in 2002 and has continued for more than two decades. A longtime practitioner of Jivamukti & Ashtanga Yoga, Cory has studied extensively with David Life, Sharon Gannon, David Garrigues, Tim Miller, and Tim Feldmann. He was certified to teach Jivamukti in 2008.
Alongside his yoga studies, Cory has devoted much of the past decade to the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. He has trained with Khenpo Tokpa Tulku, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, received refuge vows from Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, and became a Certified Tergar Anywhere Anytime Meditation Teacher in 2025.
Before dedicating himself fully to teaching, Cory earned a Ph.D. in Food Chemistry and spent sixteen years working in science, public policy, and international affairs — mainly for FDA in Washington, DC. Today, he draws upon both scientific inquiry and contemplative wisdom to explore the rich intersections between Buddhism and Yoga.
Through pilgrimages, retreats, online programs, and courses on OmStars, Cory helps students cultivate greater awareness, compassion, and connection to their innate goodness.
Sarah McTee, Co-Leader
Sarah currently lives in Honolulu, Hawaii where she splits her time between working as a part time consultant for nonprofits, teaching yoga, and enjoying adventures in the ocean. Sarah discovered Jivamukti Yoga in 2006 while living in Washington, D.C. After years of practicing under Jill Abelson and Cory Bryant she was inspired to attend Jivamukti Yoga teacher training in 2011, and has been teaching in that style ever since. Recently, Sarah has augmented her yoga practice and instruction with the study of massage therapy and Reiki. Having experienced the emotional and physical healing made possible through yoga, she hopes to create a space for others to live life fully and with an open heart.
James Hopkins, Guide
In 2004 James retired from his job as a stockbroker and checked into a Buddhist monastery near the Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu, and has been living there ever since: Studying philosophy & language at the monastery, traveling around the world as a Tibetan lama's assistant, running a social project in an encampment of street beggars, teaching leadership & management skills to reincarnated lamas, leading international yoga tours, and trying to make sense of it all with a pen & paper.
Bidur Ghimire, Guide
A native Nepali, Bidur is our man on the ground. He’s like a living Buddha — one of the nicest, most loving people you’ll ever meet. We’ve been working together on these trips since 2010 and he’s there for us every step of the way!