| Reply To: | Emiko <emiko@emiko.com.ar> |
|---|
Finally I can sit down and tell you the experience of the first yoga class inside the Los Algarrobos Correctional Prison for women.
I'll give you some numbers to begin: there are 100 girls in the facility and amazingly you gathered just 100 soap bars with a message.
Furthermore you gave 80 more soap bars, 60 toothbrushes, some shampoos and cosmetics. In addition there were several mats you generously gave!
I would like to thank each and everyone: I will do it personally with a hug.
Many yoga people cheered me on hoping for a good answer from the girls in prison.
The day before my friend Susan Peterson told me that even if just one of the hundred girls would take the lesson, I would reach my goal.
Few days earlier Aleyda Batista Fernández went to the Prison to get the authorization.
Later she related to me how little enthusiasm she felt among the girls, as by a large majority, they don't know anything about Yoga.
Also, she warned me about the new policy to get into the facility. Cellphones, keys, cameras, white t-shirt, lycra or sweat pants , low-cut neck, shorts, miniskirt, thongs and see-through clothes are not allowed.
And finally she told me we need to be there 30 min. earlier, to pass the check. Well, it will be a long day...
The night before I was dreaming how horrible and enclosed the place where I'll give the class was, and how scattered and inattentive were the girls, so the class was a mess.
Anyway, I woke up at 6:30 am, took a shower, made coffee and walked to get the bus from Palmira to David.
During the trip a mix of awkward feelings got me. Dizziness, excitement, concern of what I was about to do. So I decided to close my eyes, to breath and find a balance.
At 9 am I met Aleyda and psychiatrist Martha Franceschi who is a yogi and a volunteer.
Their smiling faces and the thrill to living this experience together, cleared the sky of the clouds so I could see the sun.
Entering the facility Aleyda was concerned. What if nobody want to take the Yoga class? So we thought to motivate them with the draw of 2 big shampoos and some cosmetics, among who was in the Yoga class.
Behind the gate security guards were staring at us.
They checked all the stuff we were carrying, and I can say it was pretty much!
Rule says the packaging must be opened... that means it would take hours...
Aleyda explained them that each bar of soap was coming along with a friendly and supporting note. Open it, would have meant to spoil the nice effort of the givers and the little surprise for the girls, then she was really smart as she open one pack and read loudly the inner message.
Clearly that was touchy so the guards let us get inside with the packages intact.
Then we were body checked by the security staff. It was respectful and it didn't take much time.
Finally after the passports, they opened the final gate.
Getting in the prison the heat was intense, but my first impression was good, as I saw no cold concrete building instead there was a garden surrounded by several trees.
We walked through the yard, carrying big boxes of soap bars and mats, while the girls were watching at us.
Look back at everyone, was a kind of good start.
We reached a sort of rancho, sheet roof, chairs and tables. At least it would be a perfect place to give class.
A minister was reading there and we could not cut in. But we had only 90 minutes available, and the clock was running...
Soon the girls asked us what we were doing there. A Yoga class, I said, which I invited them to attend.
I showed them the scar on my back due to an accident. My spine is broken, but thanks to Yoga the pain has quite disappeared.
So they replied to me confessing their own waist or back pain, or headaches.
Aleyda let them see the big bottles of shampoo saying they will be draw among who would be attending the Yoga class.
In few minutes more and more girls were applying, signing their name on a little paper.
The minister was going on, so we started to move chairs and tables, in order to clean the floor and unwrap the mats. At that point the minister got the message and kindly let us have his place.
20 mats were not enough, when we began the Yoga session.
So Aleyda, Martha and myself, we yield our mats as well.
We made a Sun Salutation, some standing and sitting postures specific for back issues, and I show them how to breathe.
The session was funny. There were soft smiling with moans and humorous. Also we had concentration moments in which they were immersed in breathing.
During the relaxation time, the silence reached the whole audience.
At the end of the session we form a circle singing OM, and we say goodbye with Namaste.
When the class was over, some girls that were just watching, said that they would be in, next time,
Then we handed out the gifts. We clarified they are not coming from me, instead many generous people gather them to give away, along with the lovely notes.
Their faces full of joy, was the best reward.
Aleyda Batista and Martha Franceschi, who shared with me this day, will remember it for a long time. Thank you to invite me to live this experience.
I must make a special mention for: Curvas Bonita´s Bonnie, Casa Cultural, La Guaricha´s, Antonio Singh and Hable Ya´s Evelyne and Kattarina and the BCP.
Thanks to everyone for your support and donation.
You allow those two hours of sharing which you can see some pictures.
The next yoga class inside the prision will be on December 20 : "YOGA CHRISTMAS"
I invite you to gather Sanitary Napkins, Body Lotion and some more yoga mats to take on the next Christmas Yoga Class.
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