P19
March 2013
had found her calling. She said yoga helps people
channel God. The challenge is helping students
make that connection.
For some evangelical Christians, yoga’s roots in
Hinduism cause them to completely avoid the
practice. Some pastors have spoken out against
yoga. However, practitioners on the GCU campus
believe the practiced stretching and breathing help
Christians focus on God’s Word.
“God wants to use His Word in every place and
every situation,” Tricamo said. “And if we can bring
the Word in a gentle and nurturing way to people
through this practice, and that person discovers who
they are, then that’s all we need to do because He
truly is the author of everything.”
GCU’s Holy Yoga students said the popular Rec
Center classes allow them to spend time with God
and minimize the daily distractions that interfere
with prayer.
Some students have attended Rec Center yoga since
their freshman year. Others said they would like to
see more Holy Yoga classes offered to accommodate
students, including working professionals who might
not make it to campus as often. Tricamo’s classes
currently draw 20 to 30 students to three weekly
morning classes.
Kelsey Graner
, a junior nursing student from Ohio,
said Holy Yoga helped her slow down and take more
time to listen to God.
“I probably would’ve never gotten into Holy Yoga,
and had it help me so much, if they didn’t offer it
here at GCU,” said Graner, one of the regulars in
Tricamo’s classes.
“It’s really helped me in other aspects, too,” Graner said.
“It’s all about breathing. Now that I’ve been doing yoga so
long, I find myself doing that all the time.”
■
GCU REC CENTER
PROGRAMS
Holy Yoga instructor Gina Tricamo says the ancient Hindu tradition helps Christian students with meditation and prayer.
GCU student Alejandra Valenzuela (top left) stretches and Rachel Hoard (above) checks her form during Holy Yoga classes at the Student Recreation Center. Photos by Darryl Webb
T
he students in
Gina Tricamo’s
early-morning yoga class twisted
and formed their bodies into
poses as their instructor recited scripture from
Ezekiel and Philippians.
Contorted and stretched-out bodies
sprawled across purple mats in the Sanctuary
studio. The group of young people at Grand
Canyon University’s Student Recreation
Center resembled a traditional yoga class.
But the soothing Christian music and focus
on God clearly set it apart as holier than the
common exercise routine.
Tricamo, a former probation officer who began teaching
therapeutic yoga four years ago, said the Christian
version of yoga – known as Holy Yoga – allows her to
blend fitness with prayer. After seeing drug addicts,
prostitutes and others turn their lives around through
the Eastern meditative tradition, Tricamo knew she
Holy Yoga converts Eastern
tradition into Christian fitness
– by Rachelle Reeves / Special to GCU Today Magazine
THE
of FAITH
Flexibility
Holy Yoga is the only faith-based
fitness program offered through
GCU’s 55,000 square-foot Student
Recreation Center. Other popular
classes such as turbo kickboxing,
Zumba and intermediate yoga
classes draw dozens of students
weekly. Classes are free and open to
all GCU students.
For more information about fitness
programs at the Rec Center, call
602.639.7400.
✝
