Publication Date: Wednesday Dec 16, 1998

People: Betty Strain: exercising her destiny

Strain's yoga classes are part exercise, part meditation. She is so in control of every one of her muscles that she makes shaping her body into intricate positions look effortless.

Strain, a Mountain View native, became interested in yoga almost by accident. About 34 years ago, after the birth of her second child, a neighbor stopped by to tell Strain about a hobby she had recently taken up. The hobby turned out to be yoga.

"My neighbor showed me a few things from her yoga class, and I thought this was something I might like," Strain said. "So I got a baby sitter and started going to classes."

After taking classes for three years, she got the opportunity to teach. The neighbor who originally drew Strain into the art of yoga was moving away, and she asked Strain to take over the classes.

"That one event changed my whole life," Strain said. "I've been at the YWCA for 30 years, and I've loved every bit of it. I love teaching. I give myself to the students."

Strain, who will admit to being somewhere around 60, is a certified yoga teacher. She studied the craft with B.K.S. Ivengar in India, Angela Farmers in Greece and the Ivengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco, where she earned her certification.

The most important thing Strain shows her students, however, is not taught at a training institute. During each class, Strain shares with her students her easygoing, optimistic nature.

"I love that one-on-one rapport," Strain said. "The thing I've learned over the years is to communicate with my students--make them feel comfortable regardless of what they can do."

"She's great," said Fred Janon, one of her regular students. "The poses that we do are good for you, and she's careful about keeping up the level of the class."

Strain teaches eight beginner and intermediate yoga classes every week at the Palo Alto YWCA, the Oak Creek Apartments in Palo Alto and the Sunnyvale recreation department.

Over the past 30 years, she has missed only three or four classes. She accomplished that feat despite having back surgery 16 years ago and breaking her leg about a year later. Using yoga as her physical therapy regimen, Strain recuperated quickly and was back teaching yoga on her crutches after a few weeks.

"There wasn't anything wrong with my mouth," Strain said. "What I couldn't do I would have a student do for me. The only thing that gets me down is a sinus headache."

Strain does not expect to slow down anytime soon. She credits yoga with her high level of energy and not having had a cold in the past 20 years.

"Yoga has gotten me through many trying times--both physically and mentally," Strain said. "When I started yoga, I didn't realize it was my destiny."

Strain does not limit the size of her classes and encourages anyone who is curious about yoga to try it for at least one class. All that beginners need, Strain said, is three things: time, patience and perseverance. What they stand to gain are flexibility, strength and a calming of the spirit, she said.

As for Strain, one of the most important things she has taken away from yoga is the respect and admiration of her students.

"The most rewarding thing that has ever been said to me was, 'Betty, you are my inspiration. I want to be just like you,'" Strain said.

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