Darren Main
Encyclopedia
Darren Main, is a yoga
teacher and author currently living in San Francisco. He has written largely about Eastern spirituality for a more modern and Western audience. Main is best known for his second book, Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic. He has written several other books: Inner Tranquility; Spiritual Journeys Along the Yellow Brick Road; and his newest, Hearts and Minds: Talking to Christians About Homosexuality. Three of Main's books are currently in their 2nd edition and have been translated in various languages. Main also maintains a podcast called "Inquire Within" on his website www.darrenmain.com where he interviews various individuals on topics such as healing, spiritualism, and social activism. http://www.inquirewithinpodcast.com
Main's adolescent years were “filled with pain, rage and confusion” which led to drug abuse and depression. After an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Main claimed to have had a spiritual awakening. This spiritual awakening led Main to Alcoholics Anonymous
and to Narcotics Anonymous
and to Hatha Yoga
and Meditation
. Main also became a student of A Course in Miracles
.
and at Rhode Island College
. He also studied massage therapy at the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy
in Worchester, MA and trained to become a yoga and meditation instructor at The Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA.
Shortly after his first book was released in 1999, Main began teaching throughout the United States and internationally.
In April 2006, Main founded a Naked Yoga for Men group in San Francisco and began teaching naked yoga (for men) at Mission Yoga. http://www.nakedyogasf.com. link to BAR article: http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1087
Main also writes articles and has contributed to Gay.com
, White Crain Journal and the Kaiser Permanente
HIV Update Newsletter.
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
teacher and author currently living in San Francisco. He has written largely about Eastern spirituality for a more modern and Western audience. Main is best known for his second book, Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic. He has written several other books: Inner Tranquility; Spiritual Journeys Along the Yellow Brick Road; and his newest, Hearts and Minds: Talking to Christians About Homosexuality. Three of Main's books are currently in their 2nd edition and have been translated in various languages. Main also maintains a podcast called "Inquire Within" on his website www.darrenmain.com where he interviews various individuals on topics such as healing, spiritualism, and social activism. http://www.inquirewithinpodcast.com
Early years
Main was born in Westerly, RI to John and Kathy Main (now Kathy Ascare). Main also has a brother, Jason Main and a sister, Jennifer Main.Main's adolescent years were “filled with pain, rage and confusion” which led to drug abuse and depression. After an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Main claimed to have had a spiritual awakening. This spiritual awakening led Main to Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
and to Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is a twelve-step program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous describing itself as a "fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem," and it is the second-largest 12-step organization...
and to Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
and Meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
. Main also became a student of A Course in Miracles
A Course in Miracles
A Course in Miracles is a self-study curriculum that aims to assist its readers in achieving spiritual transformation. The book describes a non-dualistic philosophy of forgiveness and includes what are meant to be practical lessons and applications for the practice of forgiveness in one's daily life...
.
Education
Main studied Social Work at Mohegan community College, Community College of Rhode IslandCommunity College of Rhode Island
The Community College of Rhode Island, commonly abbreviated as "CCRI", is the only community college in Rhode Island. It was founded as Rhode Island Junior College, "RIJC", in 1964 with 325 students studying on the former Knight Estate. Today CCRI consists of six campuses and enrolls over 16,000...
and at Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College is a nationally ranked, coeducational, state-supported comprehensive college founded in 1854, located in Providence, Rhode Island, USA...
. He also studied massage therapy at the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy
Bancroft School of Massage Therapy
The Bancroft School of Massage Therapy, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, was founded in 1950 by Henry LaFleur, proprietor of the Bancroft Health Center, a facility specializing in Swedish Massage and Sports Massage since 1938...
in Worchester, MA and trained to become a yoga and meditation instructor at The Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA.
Teaching Yoga and Meditation
Main began teaching yoga in Providence, RI in 1992. He spent a year teaching in Bozeman, MT in 1993. Main moved to San Francisco, CA in 1994 where he currently teaches. In 1998, Main opened his San Francisco yoga studio, Castro Yoga with David Nelson. In 2000, Castro Yoga closed and Main began teaching for San Francisco’s largest yoga studio,Yoga Tree. In addition to his weekly yoga classes and various workshops, Main is also the Director of Yoga Tree's Teacher Training program. His book, Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic has become required text in a number of yoga teacher certification programs throughout the United States.Shortly after his first book was released in 1999, Main began teaching throughout the United States and internationally.
In April 2006, Main founded a Naked Yoga for Men group in San Francisco and began teaching naked yoga (for men) at Mission Yoga. http://www.nakedyogasf.com. link to BAR article: http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1087
Writing
Main is the author of several books including:- Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic
- Inner Tranquility
- Spiritual Journeys Along the Yellow Brick Road
- Hearts and Minds: Talking to Christians About Homosexuality Spiritual Journeys along the Yellow Brick Road.
Main also writes articles and has contributed to Gay.com
Gay.com
gay.com is a chat, personals, and social networking website catering to the LGBT community. The site is a digital brand of Here Media Inc. In addition to community features, the site features LGBT-related news and features. As of September 2005, San Jose Mercury News ranked gay.com as the most...
, White Crain Journal and the Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium, based in Oakland, California, United States, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney Garfield...
HIV Update Newsletter.