The ancient practice of yoga has surely caught on in America, with classes available in most places. Yoga has been defined as "traditional physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines, originating in ancient India, whose goal is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility."But what does it take to become a certified yoga instructor? Hailey Yoga Center teachers Kathie Caccia and Pilar Tumolo have almost four decades of combined experience as yoga practitioners. They have traveled widely to learn from noted yoga teachers around the country, and have brought their experience back to Hailey. About six months ago, they recruited 28 students for an intensive 200-hour yoga teacher-training and in-depth studies program at the Hailey Yoga Center, bringing several noted teachers to town to share their knowledge with local students.
The studies have included classes on anatomy, philosophy, mythology, Sanskrit, ethics, chanting and the asanas, or physical postures associated with the ancient Hindu spiritual practice of yoga. Richard Rosen taught a class on history and philosophy. Martin Kirk taught about yoga-specific anatomy. Eddie Modestini and Nicki Doane gave instruction in asanas. Manorama taught the basics of Sanskrit, an ancient language of India used in yoga instruction, and provided information on mantras, sounds, or words that are used by yogis to transform consciousness.
"It's been mind-blowing. I'm loving it," said Isaac Moore, a 33-year-old Navy veteran who now serves in the Army Reserves. He came from Seattle about a year and half ago and works at Java café in Hailey.
Moore had been taking yoga classes for a few years and was engaged in military training at Gowen Field in Boise when he noticed that some of the Army's new warm-up and recovery drills looked familiar. "I said, 'Hey, those are yoga poses.' The Army doesn't call it yoga and they don't do it like you would in a yoga studio. It's seen as a deep stretching exercise to prevent injuries."Moore said some of his military friends suggested he take the yoga-teacher training in Hailey and report back on it. So he enrolled.
"Now I realize that yoga is so much bigger and deeper than I ever thought," he said. "It's been very enlightening. It grabs my attention and holds it. Meditation has helped out a lot. Experiencing philosophy from the yoga viewpoint has opened my eyes up and I want to share it with people."Moore said he hopes to begin teaching yoga soon at the All Things Sacred gallery in Ketchum, but he may also have some students at Gowen Field, where he trains as an Army specialist at least once each month. "My lieutenant is asking now, 'Are you going to teach it to us?'" he said.