Post written by HereNowYoga lead teacher, Kim Drye.
My teacher, mentor, and friend, Ryan Conrad, passed away on Feb 23rd, 2017 after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. He died peacefully at 6:40am surrounded by his close family including his beloved wife Brooke and one year old son.
It was an honor to stand on his porch yesterday morning and sing out his soul with a group of other yoga practitioners and friends. We sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" as they carefully carried Ryan from his home. There were tears, rose petals, chimes, and a sea of hugs. I closed my eyes and felt my feet on the ground, focused on the familiar sensations and rhythms of my breath to help me stay present through the waves of emotion. I found the strength to look and truly see his body one last time, to say a final goodbye.
