Antwon Rhodes on Connection
by Kathy Hampton
On a beautiful Sunday morning, I met Antwon Rhodes in Military Park in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Antwon was scheduled to hold a yoga class and I was happy to attend.
The hour-long class was challenging yet quite relaxing and restorative. The best part of the experience was that I was the sole student. Antwon was great at providing alternatives to certain poses and options for adjustments when needed.
The bonus for the class was the wonderful clear blue sky with a few puffy white clouds lingering as the class was wrapping up while in savasana. Soon after the final breath into OM, I was able to meet with Antwon to discuss why he became a yoga instructor.
Antwon Rhodes
KH: Antwon, why did you want to become a yoga instructor?
Antwon: I put it off for a couple of years. A couple of years ago, when in a full-time job, I took a hot yoga class. I enjoyed it so much that I thought about what I could do besides this particular full-time job which I had been with from 2010 to 2014. So, I started thinking about how I could balance out the full-time work with a [yoga] teacher program; even though most of the yoga instructor programs are mostly held on weekends.
I really started the instructor program because I felt that I always wanted to teach. I have patience and also liked connecting with people. Growing up, I was a timid - well shy child but actually liked to engage with people. Over the years it felt good to really express myself while at the same time learning something from other people. Give and take. You never know what you can take from [the] experience of getting to know people.
KH: Did you have anything set in your mind that you wanted to teach people about yoga?
Antwon: Actually, not at that point. With the Yoga Impact program, I really want people to come into my class and not feel intimidated or discouraged. I really want people to connect with themselves; just as I am experiencing the similarity with my own personal growth. Literally, I am experiencing a connection with myself and it has happened and is happening over these last few years; I want people to take the time to become in tune with themselves.
A lot of people want and look for immediate gratification. It’s important that they take the time and just figure out how to check in with themselves and figure out how they are feeling. They don’t take the time to be more in tune with self.
In July, I had the opportunity, at I’m So Yoga, to take that time with people. I didn’t want to rush anybody. If someone needed to back into a pose they should feel free to do so and now that there are mirrors on the wall you can actually look at yourself in the mirror and see your movement and alignment.
KH: We had music and chanting in the background during our session. Is there any any other form of personal growth through different practices you are doing and if so, how do they connect with yoga?
ANTWON: Oh yeah, there are a couple of things. I like to run. I have the Hudson River as my backyard and Liberty National Park nearby where I take cleansing breaths and reflect.
Also, I’ve decided to become a vegan. I love being vegan for 3 years. I had put it off for so many years. I decided not to eat meat which I usually ate mostly chicken and turkey. After two weeks it was not really hard ‘cause you do have so many options. I do have to work on sugar intake though because refined sure is not really good for you and I noticed the difference over the years.
I am learning a lot about myself and taking it moment by moment to make changes. That’s what I do in my yoga classes, I want people to take it moment by moment to learn about themselves in order to make changes.
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