By Anna Real
Staff Writer
Red ink, grading papers and writing lesson plans are all standard jobs that every teacher does.
On top of being an English teacher at Costa, Diana Sieker has a passion for yoga and is working toward becoming a yoga instructor. She teaches free classes every other Thursday from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. at L.Y.F.E. Yoga in Hermosa Beach. These classes are offered to Costa freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
“It is a lifetime of studying and taking different tests and going to different levels to become higher on the yoga teacher spectrum,” Sieker said.
“It is really intense. That’s why I need to practice to prepare for the test in order to become an official, certified yoga teacher.”
As a way to improve her yoga skills, Sieker is part of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Los Angeles. Instead of joining a simpler plan to obtain her teaching status, she chose the more difficult path for greater success.
“In the Iyengar system, there is a certain number of hours to be qualified to take the test and become an introductory teacher,” Sieker said. “It’s like the ‘Harvard University of yoga’.”
During last year’s Mira Costa May Day, Sieker hosted a yoga class on campus where students participated in basic yoga stretches.
“I really enjoyed Sieker’s class during May Day,” senior Ashley Duncan said. “It was fun to relax at school.”
She encourages all students to attend to experience Iyengar yoga.This particular style of yoga has an emphasis on detail, precision as well as alignment.
However, some students believe that most people who attended did not take the class seriously and did not put much effort into learning the art of yoga.
“I feel like the May Day class was full of people who didn’t really want to be there and just took it because they thought it would be easy,” Kingston said. “Sieker’s classes are full of people who have taken the time out of their day to be there and actually want to learn.”
When students first arrive to the yoga studio, they remove their shoes, grab a yoga mat and find a place to sit down. Sieker explains what they will be doing during the class and gives an explanation of the poses.
“When I go to Sieker’s yoga class, I really enjoy them,” Duncan said. “It’s a great way to relax and loosen up from school. I also like the flexible schedule. It makes it easier. It is really nice to go after school and relax for a little while.”
According to Sieker, there are 20 or more different types of yoga that relieve muscles and have a serene environment. Although yoga is somewhat straining, it will leave people happy.
“I enjoy the yoga classes,” junior Brighton Lindberg said. “They make me kind of tired but happy.”
The class is meant for beginners and eases the students into the process and poses as well as helps them to understand the various movements.
“These are beginner classes so it is for students that are maybe just becoming acquainted with yoga,” Sieker said. “I thought it was a nice way to introduce students to yoga and learn the mechanics. I just want to expose yoga to them to show what a wonderful tool it can be.”
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