Dan was born in Evanston, Illinois and grew up in Libertyville, a verdant suburb about an hour north of Chicago. In his youth, he loved running in a pack in the neighborhood, playing free the tree, ghost in the graveyard and, above all, football. He also ran in a bmx gang whose main goal, aside from shredding the trails behind the high school, was to hit the white hen for candy and soda.

In high school, he suffered a severe reaction when bitten by the acting bug and was confused for awhile, thinking he was Deniro or something. This reaction persisted and he subsequently matriculated to the theatre school at De Paul University, ultimately earning a BFA in acting. The first class on the very first day of college was, drum roll plz, YOGA! and he hated it. Well, actually, the reaction was a bit more mixed than that. Perhaps the challenges were a bit too intense for him at the time, but the seed was planted.

After graduating from school, Dan moved to Santa Monica, California with his then girlfriend, now wife, Lesley. It wasn't but a few weeks into residing ocean side that Dan discovered Bryan Kest's poweryoga class. It was what he likes to call a lifequake. Bryan's intense style of vinyasa yoga freaking blew his mind.

Two beautiful daughters and 10,000 hugs later, Dan realized that teaching yoga would basically rock so he hooked up with this long-haired Hawaiian maniac named Tamal. Which brings us to today. Music swells as lights dim. Lights up on a yoga class where people are having a blast getting stronger, healthier and dare I say, happier? Join him in writing the next chapter in this journey... see you in class!



http://danwardyoga.com/