Ian Darrah began working privately with clients to share his expertise & love of health, fitness, yoga & nutrition to help people lead healthier lives. His clients come from all walks of life and range from baby boomers & seniors to children and teens, and from special needs populations to competitive runners and triathletes.
Ian is a native of Ohio and grew up competing in tennis tournaments and ski races. Endurance, however, proved to be his forte as became a nationally ranked amateur triathlete (swimming, cycling and running) before racing professionally for two years. While still in college at North Carolina State University, Ian founded a triathlon club where he trained student triathletes for the Collegiate National Championships where he himself placed 2nd overall. Ian went on to complete his Bachelor’s degree at NCSU (Raleigh, NC) in Foreign Languages and an International MBA at the nation’s top-ranked International Business program (USC – Columbia, South Carolina). After nearly 10 years working with corporations domestically and internationally (marketing) and developing a successful international travel business, Ian decided it was time to step away from the computer & office and get out to help people with their health & wellness. Ian’s mission & passion is to help people of all ages and condition to better their health, meet fitness goals and improve lifestyle/well-being.
Ian has extensive experience as a Personal Trainer (certified with the American Council on Exercise “ACE”) and Yoga teacher (Certified at the 200 and 500 hour levels) and brings his understanding of fitness, nutrition, anatomy and proper form/technique to properly guide his clients. For example, he understands the tightness issues (restricted range of motion in the hips, hamstrings and lower back) faced by runners, bikers and triathletes as well as the needs of middle aged and aging adults (lower back pain, decreased energy, balance and flexibility challenges, loss of lean muscle mass/strength, decreased cardio function etc.).
Coming to yoga in 2002, Ian discovered that yoga had the ability to relieve stress and rejuvenate his energy in a way that running, cycling and swimming did not. A year later, he immersed himself in the remote wilderness of Southern Brazil to participate in the Native American Vision Quest, an experience that inspired a parallel path of intensive retreats into nature. In addition to working with personal training clients, Ian now teaches a variety of classes throughout Miami: Sivananda, Vinyasa Flow, Beginners, Gentle Yoga and Meditation. He underwent Level I Vinyasa-based Yoga Teacher Training in 2008, and in 2013, completed the Sivananda Level I and Advanced Yoga Teacher Training courses in Val Morin, Canada. Ian leads Yoga Teacher Training programs at the 200-hour level, and his students have become inspiring and successful yoga teachers. Ian credits his yoga practice and teaching to world-renown Swami Brahmavidyananda, the Sivananda lineage teachings and Ashtanga Vinyasa system.
