I have been hired by countless companies to take care of mental health. The world has awakened to the importance of the quality of someone’s mind for creativity and productivity. This should be a priority for every company so that no one gets left behind.


As part of our series about ‘The Future Of The Global Wellness Economy,’ I had the pleasure to interview Bryant Wood at the 2022 Modern Nirvana Wellness Retreat in New York City, New York.

Bryant (also known as “iKAR”-The one who touches the sky) is a global traveler who has immersed himself in enriching experiences with the goal to bring something authentically his own into the world. He is a Master Breathwork instructor, and is currently certified as a Priest, NLP Practitioner, Pranashamanic Yoga, believer in Inclusive Mindfulness, Motivational coach, and Mental Health Consultant certified through Kindred.

Bryant uses his wide range of skills from many offerings to hold sacred space rituals, workshops and retreats around the world. Some of his past partnerships have included HBO, Spotify, Younga, United Nations and Daily Yoga App. You can see him on the upcoming second season of the Netflix show The Circle, sharing his knowledge of the breath. Currently Bryant is launching his Breathwork teacher training, Working with his 1:1 clients, and is in high demand to speak and share his wisdom. He is 1 of 3 of the Modern Nirvana team that is fully devoted to paving the way for a more enlightened world.


Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Breaking down so completely that I yelled at the world “ I will do anything to feel something other than what’s going on inside of me.”

What are your “3 things I wish someone told me when I first started my career” and why?

Your energy is your destiny, your free will is how well you take care of your energy, and set your Northstar or focus point. You can achieve anything in this lifetime so dream the biggest possible dream you can.

Do one perfect thing a day.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?

My mom is the sweetest person in the world. She always told me two really important things — until you’ve read ten books on something, don’t talk about it, and to always treat others as myself. I realized as I began my journey as a soul having a human experience, that we are all more connected than we think. We can all nurture each other better if the words we use to describe ourselves are loving and kind.

Do you have a favorite book or quote that made a deep impact on your life? Can you share a story?

My uncle Kerry, who I moved in with at 15 years old, told me, “Someone’s got to do it. If not you, then who?” This opened up limitless possibilities for me.

How has wellness played a big role in your life?

It saved my life. I truly wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the tools that I have which have allowed me to primarily be in an unfuckable state of joy and choose love over all else. This is why I helped create Modern Nirvana, which is a Summit that brings together so many different leaders, biohacks, and meditation tools that everyone will find something that will work for them. Each person is unique, so a part of the journey is discovering what works best for your energy.

Can you share with our readers what innovations you are excited about in the health and wellness industries?

I’m most interested in gamifying the healing journey.

As you know, COVID-19 changed the world as we know it. Can you share some examples of how health and wellness companies will be adjusting?

I have been hired by countless companies to take care of mental health. The world has awakened to the importance of the quality of someone’s mind for creativity and productivity. This should be a priority for every company so that no one gets left behind.

In my work as a Board Certified Wellness Coach who caters to the cancer survivor community, I have found the theme of “second chances” to be a powerful motivator. What keeps your spirit still firing?

Spirit is always firing and achieving its goal. Humans are malleable and need constant work. It’s always good to keep a beginner’s mind with life and let a good philosophy lead to a better one if it applies to your direct experience.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in the wellness industry to help them thrive and not “burn out”?

If you don’t want to do what you are doing, let it go or learn to like it. The task itself has no real power over you; it’s your perception of the experience. Secondly, like I said earlier, do one perfect thing a day, then go and be present with life and take whatever self-care you need to feel most like yourself.

You are a “wellness insider”. How would you describe the “perfect wellness experience”?

The perfect wellness experience gives people the option to choose their own transformation. When someone is sincere in the moment, they will remember their power even if it’s just with one breath.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

My main focus is my health. I know that if I cultivate inner peace and happiness, anything I do will vibrationally lift up the environment I’m around and enhance the projects that I create.

How can our readers follow you online?

@ikarwood on Instagram. DM, and I’ll do my best to follow you back! Also visit modernnirvana.com

This was very inspiring, Bryant. Thank you.

Author(s)

  • Savio P. Clemente

    TEDx Speaker, Media Journalist, Board Certified Wellness Coach, Best-Selling Author & Cancer Survivor

    Savio P. Clemente, TEDx speaker and Stage 3 cancer survivor, infuses transformative insights into every article. His journey battling cancer fuels a mission to empower survivors and industry leaders towards living a truly healthy, wealthy, and wise lifestyle. As a Board-Certified Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC, ACC), Savio guides readers to embrace self-discovery and rewrite narratives by loving their inner stranger, as outlined in his acclaimed TEDx talk: "7 Minutes to Wellness: How to Love Your Inner Stranger." Through his best-selling book and impactful work as a media journalist — covering inspirational stories of resilience and exploring wellness trends — Savio has collaborated with notable celebrities and TV personalities, bringing his insights to diverse audiences and touching countless lives. His philosophy, "to know thyself is to heal thyself," resonates in every piece.