Ryan began his exploration of eastern contemplative practices in 2009. The importance of proper spinal alignment and mudra in the seated meditation posture of the Soto Zen tradition became a gateway to broader interest in the effects of the physical body on the meditative state. In 2013 he continued zazen practice at the Austin Zen Center (Austin, TX) while simultaneously cultivating a daily practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Recognizing it as a comprehensive system for the pursuance of integration of being, he transitioned to the sole practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa under the guidance of Noah Williams of Ashtanga Yoga Nilayam (Los Angeles, CA) from 2015 to 2016 and later received the methods of Richard Freeman, Mary Taylor and Ty Landrum as taught by The Yoga Workshop (Boulder, CO) from 2017 to present.

In 2018, Ryan was given the blessings of his teachers to teach Mysore-style (supervised self-practice) Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Ryan currently resides in Lubbock, TX, teaching a morning Mysore-style program hosted by HWY108 Yoga Shala.