Giannino Starts Yoga Classes at Disciplined Fitness Gym

By Cary Shuman

Lynn resident Theresa Giannino is bringing yoga to the Disciplined Fitness Center on Linden Street.

“The owner of the gym, Glen Rodriguez is trying to offer his clients something more than boot camp, personal training and fit fighting so he’s rounding it out with yoga. It’s a nice contrast for the serious bodybuilders and weightlifters – you have to stretch, everybody ignores stretching and it’s so important.”

Giannino grew up in Saugus and was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 13. “To be honest, the doctor really scared me when he said, ‘either do these exercises, wear a brace, or get surgery.’ And I didn’t like the other two options, so I said, ‘exercise here we go.’ And I really enjoyed it. Exercise kept me in a great mood.”

She took her first yoga class as a student at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst.

“If there is such a thing as falling in love with a form of exercise, I was sold 100 percent and walking on clouds after that first yoga practice and I thought, ‘I’d love to do this for the rest of my life.’’’

Now a certified yoga instructor, Giannino, 48, has taught yoga at health clubs, studios, and in one-one-on sessions. She also teaches yoga classes at North Shore Community College (NSCC).

A vegetarian for 30 years, the 5-foot-3-inch, 120-pound Giannino is holding one-hour classes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at Rodriguez’s spacious facility.

Giannino’s students say she is making yoga a fun experience and that her reputation as a motivator of students is well deserved.

“I’ve been one of Theresa’s students for a year and yoga has been helping me become fitter, more relaxed, and grounded,” said Antwanette Johnson, 25, an accounting student at NSCC.

Jackeline Concepcion, a student in the health care field at NSCC, made her debut in yoga this week. “I hear that Theresa is a great instructor and that she keeps people fit. I’ve lost 100 pounds on my own. I was 240 pounds and now I weigh 139. I look forward to working with Theresa and staying in shape.”

Said Glen Rodriguez, “We’re happy to have Theresa on our team at Disciplined Fitness.”

Yoga instructor Theresa Giannino (center) is pictured with two of her students, Jackeline Concepcion (left) and Antwanette Johnson (right) at Disciplined Fitness Center on Linden Street.

Yoga instructor Theresa Giannino (center) is pictured with two of her students, Jackeline Concepcion (left) and Antwanette Johnson (right) at Disciplined Fitness Center on Linden Street.

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