Over the past several years, I have been fortunate enough to study with some of the most respected teachers in the States: Rama Vernon, Rodney Yee, David Swenson, Tim Miller, John Friend, Eric Schiffman, Chuck Miller and many more. Though I love each and every one of these very special people and the lessons they offer, I find myself just as thrilled at every single opportunity I have to study and learn from Tucson's Darren Rhodes..
You can find Darren at The Yoga Oasis, but let's start with a little history… Darren's first exposure to Hatha Yoga occurred in his mother's womb as she practiced throughout most of her pregnancy. Later, during his childhood, his mother taught informal classes in the living room and he frequently strolled through for a few asanas. As a wrestler in high school, however, he struggled with shoulder injuries until, at his mother's recommendation, he attended one of her Bikram classes. Darren was amazed at the strenth required to make it through a whole class and began to attend regularly. In college, he got Richard Freeman's video on Ashtanga's First Series, which quickly became a new passion: Darren practiced six days a week and slowly worked his way through the first, second and third series of Ashtanga Yoga. After college, he visited Southern California for a month to study with Tim Miller and Ranjani Cobo, and it was Cobo who introduced Darren to the importance and benefits of alignment, a difficult but very beneficial experience.
Later, Darren moved to Tucson and began teaching yoga for Tucson Parks and Recreation. One day, Bill Counter and Jennifer Bethune arrived to attend his class, and Darren asked, "Have you practiced Ashtanga Yoga before?" Bill answered that, actually, he taught Ashtanga yoga at his own studio. Though a quick thought flashed through his head that the yoga police had arrived, in fact, afterwards, Bill asked him to teach at The Yoga Oasis. Three Years later, Bill handed over the entire studio to Darren.
A year prior to taking over Yoga Oasis, Darren did a week's intensive with John Friend in Phoenix. Friend teaches workshops using his own method of practice called Anusara, meaning- to flow with love or grace. To this day, Darren considers that week one of the most amazing yoga experiences of his life. His physical practice advanced but, more importantly he felt his heart open for what seemed like the first time. Practice took on a spiritual significance that hadn't been there before.
Today, though he recognizes the many physical benefits of Yoga, Darern feels the spiritual benefits are more important. Regardless of whether we can touch our toes or put our two feet behind our head, the spiritual rewards are available to us all. These benfits primarily involve seeing ourselves as we really are. Darren is fond of a passage from the Sufi poet, Rumi, that asks, "What is the body, that shadow of a shadow of your love, that somehow contains the entire of universe?"
Thus, for Darren the beauty we see outside ourselves is but a reflection of the beauty within. Yoga serves as a powerful tool for us to embrace such beauty. Thank you, Darren, for all you give of yourself, and for making the journey that much more enjoyable!
Source: Arizona Yoga Newsletter