One of the great things about Endicott is that it offers a wide range of activities and experiences to get involved in. But between classes, assignments, internships, and extracurriculars, college life can move at a fast pace, leaving little time to slow down and recharge.
Enter Gulls in Harmony, a student-run yoga club that is creating a space for students to unwind, practice mindfulness, and connect with one another through weekly yoga sessions. What began as a student initiative in 2019 has since grown into a thriving wellness community.
“All classes are open to all levels of yogis,” said Alyssa Cashman, a certified yoga instructor and the Senior Associate Director for Residence Life and Club Advisor for Gulls in Harmony.
“Instructors will vary, but they typically offer modifications. In terms of movement, some classes are vinyasa yoga, which means more movement and active poses, while other classes are more restorative and geared more towards relaxation and slower movement,” she added.
While the instructors guide Gulls through their practices, much of the work that happens behind the scenes is led by students.
This year’s Gulls in Harmony co-presidents, Anaka Waldon ’28 and Anna Olesnevich ’27, have been involved since their first year as Gulls. Now, they run the club and all aspects, from planning session themes to outreach to instructors.
“We were both active members, but towards the end of the year, our last president acknowledged our commitment to the club, and asked if we would both be presidents,” said Olesnevich, a psychology major.
Now, Waldon and Olesnevich are expanding club offerings to include additional yoga sessions on Wednesdays, due to the sheer volume of student interest, and one-hour yoga classes for students on Sundays.
“We’ve filled the Center for Belonging every single time for our Sundays, and for our first pop-up session,” said Waldon, a nursing major.
Currently, the cap for sessions is 25 people. However, Waldon and Olesnevich want to raise the cap to 30 and utilize the club’s waitlist on GullCentral.
For instructors and studio collaborations, Waldon and Olesnevich leverage Cashman’s yoga connections, and they often reach out to Endicott alumni.
“Many of our instructors have come from the Greater Beverly YMCA and Amethyst Studio. One of our instructors, Amelia Castelli, is an Endicott alum,” said Cashman.
By offering additional sessions, Waldon and Olesnevich are looking to build a space where students can go to decompress.
“We live in a very fast-paced environment. Everyone has their academics, some people are in sports, and then you come to yoga. It’s just a time to focus on you and focus on the present moment and reflect,” said Waldon.
The club is now looking to expand its executive board, giving more students the opportunity to become involved in planning events, and bringing the community together to foster an environment where yoga goes beyond the individual practice and allows students to connect and build friendships.
“When the yoga club first started years ago, it involved students I knew, so I agreed to be their advisor,” Cashman recalled. “They did some yoga events, but nothing like it is now.”