Calm minds and healthy lives — one yogi at a time

F.S. resident hosts free yoga classes at library

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The tranquil chants of “om” and deep, concentrated breathing filled the Franklin Square Public Library on July 24, as yogis attended their final yoga class of the summer. The yogis arrived early and chose a spot on the floor, creating a colorful array of yoga mats and towels, and eagerly waited for their hour-long lesson to begin.

There is a lot happening at the Franklin Square Public Library this summer, and yoga is one of the most popular programs among patrons. As one of the many items on the event calendar, teens were given the opportunity to participate in a three-part yoga series with lifelong Franklin Square resident and yoga instructor Dina Giugliano — for free. An increasing number of students have been taking advantage of the benefits of yoga, and it’s not difficult to see why.

“It’s nice to get out and do something that is healthy and good for my body,” Alyssa Freese said. “It keeps me fit and strong,” added the 18- year- old yogi, who has attended Giugliano’s classes for two summers.

The meeting room of the Franklin Square Public Library is big, airy, carpeted and equipped with a speaker — making it a soothing and relaxing oasis to practice yoga.

Giugliano, who also is a massage therapist, has been teaching yoga since 2006. “I’ve always wanted to help people,” she said. By combining her love for yoga and children with her extensive knowledge of the human body, Giugliano creates a welcoming and non-judgmental environment where teens can come together to learn how to relax through breathing and yoga.

“She has a lovely way of teaching the kids,” Young Adults Librarian Mary La Rosa said of her longtime friend. “She believes that yoga shouldn’t hurt and everyone should do it.”

To get the restless class ready to begin, Giugliano dims the lights and plays her playlist of meditation music, transporting the room to what feels like a peaceful mountaintop in the Himalayas. While the class closes their eyes and focuses on their breaths, Giugliano rings her chimes and asks them about their day and how they are feeling. This is how she gets her students to internally reflect on their bodies and emotions.

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