Por Margie M. Palmer<\/p>\n
Yogis at the San Diego Yoga Center agree that its co-owner, Anthony Burkart, bends over backward to make sure students feel welcome, but his ability to twist and bend extends far beyond classroom greetings.<\/p>\n
It also landed him a first- place nod in the 50-year-old-and-older division at the USA Yoga West Coast Regional Yoga Asana Championship.<\/p>\n
In addition to being named the California state champion, 51-year-old Burkhart also received an award for receiving the highest points overall.<\/p>\n
An unexpected love affair<\/strong><\/p>\n Burkart was first introduced to yoga when he was in his 20s, when he was into running ultramarathons \u2014 a long-distance that at 50 kilometers is race that\u2019s well beyond that of the standard, 26.2-mile footrace; the introductory session was a hot yoga class.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my coworkers asked me if I wanted to go. He said it was going to be hot, and it was smoking hot,\u201d he said. \u201cI haven\u2019t stopped since.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Yoga came with a number of unexpected benefits. In addition to helping him focus on relaxation and breathing, it helped his race performance.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helped a lot with races, and it helped prevent a lot of injuries,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d be running for 24-26 hours straight. I was always rolling my ankle. [Yoga] gave me more endurance and \u2026 it also made me a lot stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n Another upside, Burkart noted, related to post-race recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cI found that I could run a 100-mile race and once the race was over, I could get back into my regular routine. I could go home and go to sleep and go to work the next day with lots of energy, no injuries and feeling great, he said.\u201d<\/p>\n Moving to competition<\/strong><\/p>\n His decision to begin competing in yoga competitions was a natural progression.<\/p>\n \u201cI practiced for between five and six years before I became an instructor, and once that happened, I started to go a little deeper with my own practice. I began teaching, and then I got involved in competition,\u201d Burkhart said. \u201cAt that point I moved from San Diego to Hawaii and I represented Hawaii twice in the nationals.\u201d<\/p>\n He returned to San Diego in 2008 to buy the San Diego Yoga Center (SDYC), and although he continued to do well in competitions, he ultimately decided to take some time off.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until a few students at the SDYC decided to enter the statewide competition that Burkhart decided to give it another go.<\/p>\n \u201cI said I\u2019d enter with them, we all went and competed, and I placed first,\u201d he said. \u201cNot just for California, but also for the southwest region.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, he\u2019ll advance to the national championship in Lynchburg, Virginia, in early August.<\/p>\n A message to future yogi competitors<\/strong><\/p>\n Although Burkhart admits that competition isn\u2019t for everyone, his message to would-be competitors is simple.<\/p>\n \u201cI would tell them that you don\u2019t actually have to be perfect with anything. Competition isn\u2019t about winning, it\u2019s about demonstrating aspects of the yoga that you\u2019re being graded on,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s good to test yourself, and I do recommend it. Competition brings out the best in all of us. It\u2019s about bringing out the best in everyone and raising that level to a high quality. That\u2019s what yoga people do.\u201d<\/p>\n