Brian Dana Akers grew up in Kalamazoo and spent his teenage years building telescopes, reading science fiction, and practicing Yoga. He started six years at the University of Michigan in 1975, with his senior year abroad in India. His studies included Sanskrit and Indian history.
After graduate school, Brian left for the Bay Area and worked as a typographer and network manager. In 1991, he met Loretta, moved to New York, wrote a little science fiction, and founded YogaVidya.com.