By Mackenzie Cutruzzula
Gina Costanzo combined her love for yoga and community service to be part of the change she wished to see in the world. As a freshman, Gina tried joining a variety of clubs on campus, but none fit what she was looking for in a community service organization. This sophomore Special Education iSTEM major founded her own club, Humanitarian Yoga.
“I got trained and certified in yoga last summer,” Gina said. “Now I’m ready to share it with the world.”
Gina wants to use Humanitarian Yoga to utilize yoga as a service to the community. Noting how expensive yoga instruction can be, she wants to offer her knowledge for free. The community service events she has organized include after-school yoga programs for local elementary and middle schools and yoga workshops for children at Fernbrook Farms Environmental Education Center. The club will also be hosting a Yogathon in October. Gina uses yoga to teach children how to make healthier choices to lead a more stress-free life.
A mission for the club is to go beyond yoga poses. Gina tries to incorporate aspects of yoga into the club to get those not trained in yoga involved. She really wants the emphasis of the club to be on community service. Part of the after-school program includes helping students with homework and getting to know them. She also plans to set up a program with a visitation home for adults with disabilities that will allow members to not only participate in yoga, but also to talk and be a friend to those in the home as well.
Gina became involved in yoga when she took advantage of her free gym membership while working for her local gym. She found it relaxing and she continued to attend classes throughout high school to keep herself “sane during those crazy last two years.” Freshman year of college Gina took a yoga based FSP class to gain more background on the history and philosophy of yoga.
Gina is excited to take her yoga knowledge with her as she begins her path to becoming a special education teacher. She wants to use yoga in her future classroom to incorporate breathing techniques and stress relief for her students. Gina has always loved the idea of being a teacher. The inspiration to become a special education teacher came to her while volunteering in high school. Gina worked with others once a month to eat dinner and dance with adults who had developmental disabilities.
“I want to spread yoga into more schools and classrooms, getting teachers and students involved,” Gina said.
While Gina works to become a teacher, she also teaches yoga classes at the Rec Center on campus. She also holds meetings for Humanitarian Yoga on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in the Travers/Wolfe lounge.
Humanitarian Yoga can be followed on Instagram at @tcnjhumanitarianyoga, on Twitter at @TCNJHumYoga and on Facebook as well. More information about Humanitarian Yoga can be found on their website, tcnjhumanitarianyoga.weebly.com.