ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Patricia Ostroski

Patricia Ostroski is originally from Pennsylvania and lived most of her life in Philadelphia. She started coming to Longboat in the mid-’80s and in 1995 became an owner at Bayport Beach & Tennis Club. Her passion for yoga also began around the time she started coming to Longboat Key. She saw a flyer for a class and has done yoga ever since. She is now a certified yoga instructor and teaches classes at Seaplace and Bayport.

How long have you been doing yoga?
I’ve been doing it about as long as I’ve been on Longboat Key. I started doing yoga in 1990, really on a fluke. I saw a sign and I thought, “I want to do this beginner’s class.” I had a friend who went with me to that beginner’s yoga class, but I don’t think she ever did yoga again. I’ve been doing yoga both in Sarasota and in Philadelphia for 21 years.

What kind of yoga do you teach?
My style is a combination of what is known as yin yoga and vinyasa. Vinyasa is flow-type yoga. Sun salutations are the cornerstone of vinyasa yoga. My classes are hatha yoga, which is considered gentle yoga, and I would say they are a medium-style of practice.

What is one of your favorite moves?
My favorite things in yoga are probably twists. I like twists, because I find them very invigorating. Twisting is wonderful. Twisting really just feels good and makes your body feel good, makes you feel stronger, makes you feel more flexible.

What do you tell people who are thinking about trying yoga?
I encourage people to come with an open mind. I also encourage people to respect and honor their bodies — not to look at their neighbors. Just because the person standing or sitting next to you can do a certain asana, which is a yoga pose, just because they can do that pose doesn’t mean that you should do it or that you should even want to do it.

Contact Rachel S. O’Hara at [email protected]