Knowledge increases when you share it. Katerina Svecova seems to have really made this saying a part of her life nowadays.

Sophomore kinesiology major Svecova is a member of the ULM water ski team.

Nowadays, she’s gaining popularity as the yoga instructor at the activity centre.

Yoga beginning:

Svecova first got into yoga three years ago back in her homeland of Czech Republic.

She started with simple headstands and went on to include more muscle exercises after coming across yoga videos on the internet.

Ever since then, she has been teaching herself the art of balance through various online videos and books.

“Yoga is a necessity. It keeps me in balance,” Svecova said.

Svecova plays for the Czech national water ski team and also coaches beginner gymnasts back home.

Yoga motivation:

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Svecova grew a quick liking towards yoga.

“The water skiing and the whole sport are very important to me. It sometimes makes us stress and train harder,” Svecova shared.

Yoga, for Svecova, is a destresser from intense practices and school.

Power yoga, unlike regular yoga, is more focused on flexibity and core strengthening.

It may seem a bit intimidating, especially during the first few classes.

However, Svecova assured that it only gets better from then on.

Svecova was inspired to become a certified instructor because of a yoga instructor at her mother’s aerobics studio.

The yoga classes serve as a reminder for her to routinely stretch and practice on her balancing.

“My weaknesses are shoulder extension and back bending. I have problem doing bridges. ,” Svecova said.

“It’s like practice for me. I’m teaching other people, but I’m also doing yoga by myself.”

Yoga instructor:

Although this is Svecova’s first attempt at teaching yoga, her evening classes have a steady attendance of around eight pupils.

“As an instructor, she’s very attentive. She talks us through the steps while reminding us of how and when to breathe in and out,” said Kaile Finies, a junior fine arts major.

“I like that because you tend to hold your breath during harder poses.”

The versatility of yoga allows different approaches to the same posture. 

Svecova tries every pose on herself  before including it in her class routine.

“The best way to learn is teaching oneself. You’ll find your style more easily that way,” Svecova said.

Her classes also have frequent attendance from her ski team members who have been very supportive of her.

“It was hard for me to instruct in English. I sometimes get suggestion from my friends who come to the class. I try to be louder, and I’m getting more confident,” she said.

Although she sometimes struggles with motivating her pupils right after tiring ski practices, Svecova forgets the pain as soon as class starts.

Yoga advice:

“At yoga, you shouldn’t say I want to be where they are. Everyone’s body composition and flexibility is different,” Svecova shared.

“Try to take it in your own pace, step by step.”

She took up kinesiology to help others in the sports field.

Although the national water ski champion has a blooming sports career and a promising college degree, she plans to teach yoga as a side job even after graduation.