Rod Stryker is widely considered to be one of the pre-eminent yoga and meditation teachers in the United States. He is the founder of ParaYoga and has taught Tantra, Meditation, and Hatha Yoga for more than thirty years. He is one of the few Western teachers capable of articulating an authentic experience––one that has been practiced and handed down from teacher to student for literally thousands of years. Rod Stryker, the founder of ParaYoga, credits all of his accomplishments and the many gifts in his life to having been a disciple of two great masters. His first teacher, who he met at the age of 19, was Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger. Today, Rod is a student of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait Ph.D. and a teacher in the lineage of the great Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas. In addition to being an accomplished Yogi, noted teacher, lecturer, and writer, Rod also is a master in the art of personalizing Yoga and meditation practices for individuals, known as Anava-Upaya-Yoga.
Rod is currently writing The Four Desires, a book that will be published by Bantam, due to be released Spring of 2011. He is on the advisory board of Yoga + Joyful Living magazine, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Himalayan Institute. Rod has owned two highly successful Yoga studios in Los Angeles. His private clients have included a long list of celebrities and high powered professionals.
"There is a pristine place in each of us that is of the same stuff that lights the most distant star. Recognize it and discover a power and insight that will guide you to flourish in every area of your life."
Rod's study of Yoga began at the age 19. Three years later he began an intensive apprenticeship with internationally renowned Yoga master Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger. Rod became a dedicated part of this spiritual lineage that included some of India's leading Yoga Masters of the past century: Paramhamsa Yogananda, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, Kaviyogi Maharshi Shuddhananda Bharati, and Ramana Maharishi. In addition to his discipleship with Mani, Rod studied closely under Mani's son, Yogiraj Alan Finger. Eventually Rod would become his teachers' only American disciple to be given the title Yogiraj, master of Yoga.
In 1999, Rod met Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (PhD), spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute and successor to Sri Swami Rama. Thereupon, Rod became Panditji's student and was welcomed into the tradition of the Himalayan Masters. Their close relationship has continued to grow, and in recent years Rod has taught alongside Panditji at various seminars, workshops, and retreats. In 2004, Panditji initiated him as "Yogarupa" (which means "essence" or "embodiment" of Yoga) in the ceremony of the Sacred Thread. Their meeting helped inspire and consolidate Rod's previous 2 decades of study of study and practice. Rod puts it this way, "I spent twenty years preparing for what and where Panditji and the tradition of Sri Vidya would guide me. It has opened me to worlds and joy I never could have imagined before our meeting. I am eternally grateful to all it has given me and empowered me to give to others".
Rod currently lives in Colorado with his wife Gina, and their four children Jaden, Theo, Asha, and Atreya.
Rod is currently writing The Four Desires, a book that will be published by Bantam, due to be released Spring of 2011. He is on the advisory board of Yoga + Joyful Living magazine, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Himalayan Institute. Rod has owned two highly successful Yoga studios in Los Angeles. His private clients have included a long list of celebrities and high powered professionals.
"There is a pristine place in each of us that is of the same stuff that lights the most distant star. Recognize it and discover a power and insight that will guide you to flourish in every area of your life."
Rod Stryker
Rod's study of Yoga began at the age 19. Three years later he began an intensive apprenticeship with internationally renowned Yoga master Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger. Rod became a dedicated part of this spiritual lineage that included some of India's leading Yoga Masters of the past century: Paramhamsa Yogananda, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, Kaviyogi Maharshi Shuddhananda Bharati, and Ramana Maharishi. In addition to his discipleship with Mani, Rod studied closely under Mani's son, Yogiraj Alan Finger. Eventually Rod would become his teachers' only American disciple to be given the title Yogiraj, master of Yoga.
In 1999, Rod met Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (PhD), spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute and successor to Sri Swami Rama. Thereupon, Rod became Panditji's student and was welcomed into the tradition of the Himalayan Masters. Their close relationship has continued to grow, and in recent years Rod has taught alongside Panditji at various seminars, workshops, and retreats. In 2004, Panditji initiated him as "Yogarupa" (which means "essence" or "embodiment" of Yoga) in the ceremony of the Sacred Thread. Their meeting helped inspire and consolidate Rod's previous 2 decades of study of study and practice. Rod puts it this way, "I spent twenty years preparing for what and where Panditji and the tradition of Sri Vidya would guide me. It has opened me to worlds and joy I never could have imagined before our meeting. I am eternally grateful to all it has given me and empowered me to give to others".Rod currently lives in Colorado with his wife Gina, and their four children Jaden, Theo, Asha, and Atreya.