Virginia Gittelman spends spare time
helping to edit series of books
By:Sally Goldenberg
As the centuries-old tradition of Yoga gains momentum across the United States, a Hillsborough educator has co-authored and proofread numerous books in a series focusing on the Hindu discipline.
Dr. Virginia Gittelman, assistant superintendent in Hillsborough, has worked on "The Missing Peace" series. She said the books, which were published by the Princeton Design Group Inc. on Omni Drive in Hillsborough and printed in India, are expected to hit bookstores within three to five weeks.
In a style similar to the series with titles beginning "Chicken Soup for the…" books, each edition within the nine-book series about yoga is geared to a specific audience, Dr. Gittelman said.
Some of the anticipated readers include moms, dads, teachers and golfers.
Dr. Gittelman, who has worked in the field of education for over 30 years and within Hillsborough’s public education system for nine years, co-authored the book aimed at teachers.
"Because I’ve been an educator since the 60s, I have worked at the elementary, middle high school, central office, graduate levels. I know a little something about teachers, I think," Dr. Gittelman said. "When I wrote the book for teachers, I wrote to teachers, being a teacher myself. When I wrote the book for moms, I wrote to moms, being a mother myself."
Dr. Gittelman, whose husband co-wrote the book for fathers, has a 21-year-old daughter, Dara Lynn Gittelman. She lives in Princeton Junction with her family.
While Dr. Gittelman, 57, wrote the forwards, epilogues and chapters within the books explaining why each book is important for the given audience, Stefanie Pappas, a nationally registered yoga teacher, provided the books with their specific information on yoga instructions.
Each book also includes illustrations and will be accompanied by audio tapes that provide abbreviated versions of the yoga lessons included in the books, Dr. Gittelman said.
In addition, Dr. Gittelman said the team of authors has worked on a yoga book intended for all Americans to read. Though it was inspired by the Sept. 11 attacks and includes poetry Dr. Gittelman wrote in the wake of the terrorist attacks, she said the book’s purpose is to reach all Americans.
"It was an afterthought of 9/11," Dr. Gittelman said. "I really don’t want anyone to think that we wanted to make money off 9/11, because we didn’t. It’s just that I was so moved that I had to get some of my thoughts down on paper."