For the past weeks, Fayetteville-Manlius High School graduate Trish Gallen has been teaching fitness and yoga classes at the Swan Pond in Manlius. Last week she took time to tell us what her classes entail, who can take them, and why offering them at the Swan Pond was an easy decision.
When did you graduate from F-M?
“I graduated in 1995.”
Tell us a bit about your journey since then. How did you end up back in Central New York?
“I spent the past 11 years on Nantucket Island. I owned a restaurant there for six years. After the restaurant was sold, I decided to go back to school to become a personal trainer and yoga teacher, which were two of my lifelong dream jobs. I went to The American Academy in Boston and became a certified personal trainer, and then I went to Santa Barbara to study at the White Lotus Foundation to become a yoga instructor.
“I decided to move back to Manlius because of the great schools and to be closer to my mother. I have two small children, so it’s important to be close to family. Also, the seasonal transitions on Nantucket can be tough. It’s great to be home and have more of a solid year-round routine.”
What led you to teach classes at the Swan Pond?
“I’ve always loved the Swan Pond. It is so welcoming and beautiful. I was with the kids one afternoon feeding the ducks on the lower pond and looked at the pavilion. It seemed like a perfect setting for an outdoor yoga class. I called Judy Salamone at the Village Centre and ran the idea by her. She liked it and plugged it to a few other people. We also began to chat about outdoor fitness classes on the soccer field and how great that would be during the summer. We fleshed things out from there.”
What do these classes entail?
“My bootcamp classes are a complete full body workout. All body weight based exercises and movements geared towards torching calories. It’s a great addition to an existing fitness routine or a great way to begin a new one. (Tuesday and Thursday 9:15 to 10:15 a.m./5 to 6 p.m.)
“My dynamic vinyasa yoga class is a fun, vibrant yoga practice with lots of movement and current music. Vinyasa yoga is a flowy, stretchy practice that warms the muscles through breath and postures in order to stretch and lengthen. If I could bottle the feeling you get after a class and sell that, I would! (Saturdays 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.)
“Kids yoga classes are great for kids ages 4 to 7. It’s a fun and silly introduction to yoga. I let the postures tell the story! Sometimes we go on a ‘surfing ride’ and try to shape ourselves into the animals we meet on our ‘journey.’ Laid back, easy and fun. (Saturdays 10 to 10:45 a.m.)”
Who can take them?
“All my classes are open level and I have a real ‘one size fits all’ approach. There are modifications and enhancements for everything. A base level of fitness is always a plus, but by no means a requirement. And you don’t need to be ‘flexible’ to practice yoga. Yoga is for everybody. It’s more important to have a desire to learn, breathe and connect.”
How are the classes going so far?
“Classes have been great. It’s growing bit by bit everyday. People leave feeling happy and healthy. Also they’re able to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and be outside.”
Gallen’s fitness and yoga classes run through Labor Day and cost $60 for five sessions, $110 for 10 or $150 for 15. Punch cards can be purchased at the Manlius Village Centre. For more information, call 682-7887.
