Peaceful, funny and strong are the three words that come to mind when trying to describe yoga instructor Nisa Giaquinto.
I have been taking Giaquinto’s “Beginner Yoga” class for my physical education credit this semester, and it has become one of my favorite things ever. After having the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with Giaquinto, here are some reasons you should take yoga in the fall.
The first reason is that Giaquinto is both very qualified, and passionate about teaching yoga. She talked about the process of getting certified to be an instructor through Yoga Alliance, saying “I did a program called ‘Breath for Change’ that was created by educators, for other educators. They felt there was a need for other educators to get involved in the practice.”
Giaquinto obtained her certifications after spending 200 hours over various weekends, throughout a six-month period. She has been teaching yoga for just under six years.
Before teaching yoga, Giaquinto practiced it on and off for 20 years.
“When I became pregnant with my son, I really got much more into yoga for the breathwork and all the wonderful things that come with the practice,” Giaquinto said. “I moved to being much more dedicated to the practice at that point. As I continued to practice more, it seemed fit to add teaching into my practice.”
Another reason to take yoga with Giaquinto is that she understands how important it is to prioritize a mind-body connection. She was a school counselor for 15 years, in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Giaquinto started working at Madison College teaching psychology courses, and she still does teach when it fits into her schedule.
She said the evolution of teaching psychology, then yoga, felt very natural.
“I always saw the interconnection between movement and psychology, seeing movement as both healing and joyful,” Giaquinto said. “When I started teaching psychology classes here and had the opportunity to start teaching yoga, it was such an interesting intersection between the two. It really made sense to be able to teach both.”
One more reason I believe everyone should take yoga, is that Giaquinto knows how to create a safe space for her students. When asked what advice she has for beginners, she said “to practice what feels good in your body.” As one of her students, I can confirm she lives by this motto. Giaquinto encourages students to tune into their own sensations, and what feels right for them.
Due to her background in psychology, Giaquinto knows how important it is to find ways to release stress.
“Yoga is good for college students, it is a practice that will help them stay more present. It also helps with managing stress and anxiety; it can be a powerful practice,” she said.
She also brought up that she runs a business, describing it as “a practice where we focus on bringing wellness to all people and all spaces. We teach movement practices at libraries, in community centers, we do women’s wellness walks. We have plans to start movement activities in green spaces, outside and adding in volunteer elements. Having that movement, another positive psychology concept, and offering that to the community,” she said.
Giaquinto is an amazing person, and her actions reflect it. She wants everyone to feel their best, and knows yoga is a great steppingstone for that. I encourage all of you to start with her “Beginner Yoga” class, as it will both earn you credit and teach you amazing ways to be present in your life.