Community Highlights: Meet Andrea Bridger of Andrea Bridger Yoga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Bridger.

Hi Andrea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my story with you. I was a long-time lover of movement, and my yoga journey began as a supplement to marathon training in college. I felt an immediate pull toward the deep soulful healing that yoga and meditation offered. The stillness in mind, the clarity, the present moment awareness brought with it a depth of consciousness that I had yet to experience. For the first time, I witnessed the power of separating my mind’s constant chatter from the wisdom of my inner voice. I felt called to deepen my understanding of these ancient healing practices and share them with others.

After relocating to Pinehurst, North Carolina, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, with my husband in 2011 and leaving the corporate world behind, I attended my first of many yoga and mindfulness training. By 2015 I had completed 500 hours of yoga teacher training. Subsequently, I was introduced to my first sound bath experience in Palm Springs, California, and I was instantly affected by the soothing vibrational sounds and the deep state of relaxation. I felt and knew I wanted to learn more and include this in my offerings and healing modalities. I attended numerous sound training from California to New York to become a sound meditation guide and a reiki master.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Fortunately, my progression from teaching yoga to where I am now happened organically. In my personal  practice, I started connecting as much with mindfulness as movement. However, both are extremely important, and one of my favorite quotes by Sakyong Mipham is, “the body needs movement, and the mind needs stillness.”

My passion became holding space for people to be quiet and find stillness. Something that is so hard these days in a world where the noise of life can get deafening, and we all need ways to find calm. I began teaching in the traditional yoga studio environment and offering sound baths. One of my greatest joys is bringing yoga to people who may not think these practices are “for them.” Many people initially find mindfulness practices intimidating, whether age or physical fitness level. In 2018 I moved into my first studio space at a wellness center in downtown Southern Pines, NC, where I was able to begin offering private sessions.

Later, I created Mindfulness on the Move, where my goal was to make self-care practices and wellness convenient. I took Mindfulness to the client’s preferred location and customized sessions for their needs. I also offered outdoor group sound baths in the area. As challenging as the pandemic was, my business grew as people realized the benefits of self-care even more.

Since the end of 2020, I have been incredibly fortunate to be in my current studio space, Thatcher House, in Southern Pines, North Carolina. It is a small house filled with warm wood and natural light. In the 1960’s, Virginia Thatcher commissioned a Japanese architect to build the home where she remained the sole resident until her death when she donated the home to the Southern Pines Historical Society, willing that it only be used as an artistic center or a place for healing. Thatcher House allows me to offer private and small group sessions.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
My offerings are unique; I can customize many different options for clients. In an intimate setting, beginner yoga, small group sessions, sound therapy (individual and group), and monthly specialty classes such as restorative yoga, sound baths, and reiki. I also collaborate with other wellness educators in the community . 

What’s next?
I intend to continue expanding the awareness and benefits surrounding mindfulness practices throughout our communities.

Pricing:

• Private Sound Session 60 minutes/$65
• Dual Sound Healing Session 60 minutes/$90
• Private Yoga Instruction 60 minutes/$50
• Private Sound Healing with Gentle Yoga 90 minutes/$80
• Mindfulness on the Move/Contact me for pricing

Contact Info:

• Website: www.andreabridgeryoga.com
• Instagram: andreabridgeryoga
• Facebook: Om Shanti Healing

Image Credits
Rachel Garrison Photography LLC Taylor Stack