| Once in awhile, I get a great phone call. So, here is | | | | Q: What are you trying to say? You know |
| something to share with all of you. The following | | | | competitive skating is very tough. Not everyone |
| is a question and answer session between a | | | | can do it. You must be young and have the right |
| potential applicant and me, which never came to | | | | kind of body. It takes years of practice, and you |
| fruition. Sometimes, Yoga is a little different from | | | | have to learn all of the precise techniques. |
| other activities. | | | | A: I agree that figure skating requires all that you |
| Q: I am a former Silver Medalist figure skater and | | | | say, but Yoga also has its own set of |
| the years of competition have beaten my body | | | | prerequisites. Most of the people who come into a |
| up, but I would like to become a Yoga instructor | | | | yoga teacher training program have, at least, two |
| and coach of ice skating. Does this seem like a | | | | years of experience, and many of our graduates |
| viable option? I have a lot of back problems | | | | have a decade, or more, of training. |
| because of the pounding on the ice, but I will be | | | | Yoga has 5,000 years worth of precision |
| able to do all the required poses. | | | | techniques. There is terminology in Yoga that will |
| A: Yes, being a Yoga teacher and a coach of ice | | | | cause your learning curve to be a bit more |
| skating would be a nice compliment toward the | | | | difficult than the average intern. You should |
| benefit of the young skaters you train, and you | | | | consider some foundational training before applying |
| could teach them a lot about injury prevention | | | | to be a Yoga teacher. |
| and recovery from injuries. How long have you | | | | Q: Do you mean you won't sell me a course? I |
| been practicing Yoga? | | | | just want to get certified. I don't need the "third |
| Q: Actually I never took a Yoga class, but I | | | | degree" from you. You know, I can get certified |
| figured that it would be an easy transition and I | | | | somewhere else. I didn't like the idea of a 240 |
| could just jump into it. After all, I am very flexible | | | | hour course anyway. |
| and should be able to do all of the poses. | | | | A: Yes, you can become a certified instructor |
| I've seen those Yoga pose charts and most of | | | | elsewhere, but for the sake of any future |
| the postures seem like a "piece of cake." I can do | | | | students, please take Yoga classes for a year or |
| splits in every direction and put my feet on my | | | | two and find a compassionate Yoga teacher, who |
| head backwards. How many days do you think it | | | | cares about your safety. |
| will take me before I can get certified? | | | | Well, that's all folks. That would have made a |
| A: Those are amazing feats of flexibility. I hate to | | | | great podcast, but I would have needed |
| answer a question with a question, but I have a | | | | permission, and I do not have the precise |
| question for you. How many days do you think it | | | | technical expertise. Come to think of it, that's |
| will take me before I can become a competitive | | | | why I have technical help. |
| silver medalist in figure skating? | | | | |