Comments on: Exercising the Demons: The Case for Prison Yoga http://www.yogadork.com/news/exercising-the-demons-the-case-for-prison-yoga/ YogaDork commentary on yoga news, science, pop culture, celebrity gossip, with wit and wisdom Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:04:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: GymBuddiez.com - Gym Buddy with the Z » Yoga Rooms too Lavish for CA Prison Inmates? http://www.yogadork.com/news/exercising-the-demons-the-case-for-prison-yoga/comment-page-1/#comment-1117 GymBuddiez.com - Gym Buddy with the Z » Yoga Rooms too Lavish for CA Prison Inmates? Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:13:11 +0000 http://www.yogadork.com/?p=2334#comment-1117 [...] continues with CA still bickering over the $8 billion proposed for state prison overhaul, which we mentioned the other day. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown have lambasted effortsby [...] [...] continues with CA still bickering over the $8 billion proposed for state prison overhaul, which we mentioned the other day. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown have lambasted effortsby [...]

]]> By: YogaforCynics http://www.yogadork.com/news/exercising-the-demons-the-case-for-prison-yoga/comment-page-1/#comment-1113 YogaforCynics Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:24:02 +0000 http://www.yogadork.com/?p=2334#comment-1113 Having taught college writing in a maximum security prison, I can say that, in many ways, they WERE the easiest crowd I ever taught...walking in and shaking my hand before class began, being deeply engaged in writing and class discussion, expressing more gratitude than I could ever imagine coming from the Ivy League students I'd taught earlier in the day. Of course, these convicts weren't a cross section of the prison population by any means--they were people who specifically wanted to turn their lives around, despite everything the "correctional" system--which includes the violent hierarchies among prisoners--did to dehumanize them. In terms of emotions being unleashed, that happens all the time there--in the form of beatings, rapes, stabbings, etc.--as such, it seems like there's a lot of room for healthier emotional outlets, and certainly for mindfulness. At the same time, I tend to talk a lot about how my yoga practice is helping me to "open up" and "take off my armor," whereas, if I were in a place like that, I'd probably feel a need for all the armor, emotional and otherwise, that I could get. Then, I'd also need to tap into my inner strength, so...I'm just kinda thinking aloud here in your Comments. Anway, good stuff.... Having taught college writing in a maximum security prison, I can say that, in many ways, they WERE the easiest crowd I ever taught…walking in and shaking my hand before class began, being deeply engaged in writing and class discussion, expressing more gratitude than I could ever imagine coming from the Ivy League students I’d taught earlier in the day. Of course, these convicts weren’t a cross section of the prison population by any means–they were people who specifically wanted to turn their lives around, despite everything the “correctional” system–which includes the violent hierarchies among prisoners–did to dehumanize them. In terms of emotions being unleashed, that happens all the time there–in the form of beatings, rapes, stabbings, etc.–as such, it seems like there’s a lot of room for healthier emotional outlets, and certainly for mindfulness. At the same time, I tend to talk a lot about how my yoga practice is helping me to “open up” and “take off my armor,” whereas, if I were in a place like that, I’d probably feel a need for all the armor, emotional and otherwise, that I could get. Then, I’d also need to tap into my inner strength, so…I’m just kinda thinking aloud here in your Comments. Anway, good stuff….

]]> By: admin http://www.yogadork.com/news/exercising-the-demons-the-case-for-prison-yoga/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 admin Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:19:49 +0000 http://www.yogadork.com/?p=2334#comment-1109 @ YogaDawg haha, big mouth I have. it won't be surprising when the "prison issue" line comes out @ Darla That's really interesting, and unfortunate. I guess the program isn't the only obstacle. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. @ YogaDawg haha, big mouth I have. it won’t be surprising when the “prison issue” line comes out

@ Darla That’s really interesting, and unfortunate. I guess the program isn’t the only obstacle. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

]]> By: YogaDawg http://www.yogadork.com/news/exercising-the-demons-the-case-for-prison-yoga/comment-page-1/#comment-1104 YogaDawg Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:00:56 +0000 http://www.yogadork.com/?p=2334#comment-1104 "Also, get those poor inmates some decent $90 lululemon pants for crying out loud! What are we animals?" Funny! Just don't give lululemon any ideas!! :) “Also, get those poor inmates some decent $90 lululemon pants for crying out loud! What are we animals?”

Funny! Just don’t give lululemon any ideas!! :)

]]> By: darla magee http://www.yogadork.com/news/exercising-the-demons-the-case-for-prison-yoga/comment-page-1/#comment-1101 darla magee Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:14:34 +0000 http://www.yogadork.com/?p=2334#comment-1101 i taught yoga in a women's prison here in texas last year. the inmates loved it and did well. the biggest obstacle to the class was the guards. i can only guess they were not happy about the extra work the program caused them. often they would not go and retrieve and bring the women to class (how else would they get there?) or they were brought late and at all different times during the class making teaching difficult. while the intention of the warden and the higher ranking correction officers in the unit was right on target- the foresight of the yoga classes bringing more serenity and cooperation to the population was absent in the minds of the minds of those responsible for day to day inmate movement within the walls. frankly, they did what they could to make it as difficult as possible. i taught yoga in a women’s prison here in texas last year. the inmates loved it and did well. the biggest obstacle to the class was the guards. i can only guess they were not happy about the extra work the program caused them. often they would not go and retrieve and bring the women to class (how else would they get there?) or they were brought late and at all different times during the class making teaching difficult.

while the intention of the warden and the higher ranking correction officers in the unit was right on target- the foresight of the yoga classes bringing more serenity and cooperation to the population was absent in the minds of the minds of those responsible for day to day inmate movement within the walls. frankly, they did what they could to make it as difficult as possible.

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