I've Never Done Yoga on a Real Mat Before
In September of 2023 I made my usual journey to Perryville, the state prison in Arizona where I teach yoga. This trip was special as I was bringing in 41 yoga mats to donate to the three units where I teach yoga to incarcerated women.
As always I began in the maximum-security unit. I had some beautiful mats for these women! I was blessed to receive 23 yoga mats from Give Back Yoga. Many of these mats were brand new Lulu Lemon mats. I had also gathered mats from some local yoga studios, as well as some of my yoga students.
Upon arrival to max I gratefully set down the six mats I was donating to the unit. To get the mats into the prison I had to carry them from my car to the main entrance, work with the folks staffing the desk to get the mats cleared, carry the mats to the van, carry the mats off the van and through security at the max unit, and then carry the mats to the room where I teach.
September in Phoenix is still very much summer and I was outside, moving a heavy item on a warm day.
My students were pleased to see these beautiful, thick mats. Many of the mats we have in prison are quite thin, which can be uncomfortable to kneel on. Once we had the mats unrolled, students entered the room and the class began.
It was on this day that a student gave me what is one of the best compliments I could possibly receive as a prison yoga teacher. She told me “You made me forget where I was for the entire hour.” Mission accomplished and I was ready to teach in medium security.
Medium security has the most students (sometimes over 40!), and they received the most mats. I was fortunate that two COs came out to my car and carried the mats in for me – there would have been no way for me to get 20 mats in by myself. The mats we had been using in medium had literally no cushion to them. In prison, we make do and use what we have.
I always finish my day in minimum security. I had 15 mats for them and again was fortunate that a sergeant brought the mats in for me. I can carry that many mats a short distance yet, as I described above; it is not a short distance from my car to where I teach.
It was in minimum that a student told me she had never done yoga on a “real” yoga mat before. Many students experience yoga for the first time while they are incarcerated.
After teaching my third class at the prison, I gratefully got back in my car and drove home, enjoying the coolness of the AC while listening to a book.
What’s next for me? I’ll continue to teach these three classes every other Tuesday. I’m actually writing this in 2024. We currently have monies to carry us through the first quarter of this year.
In addition to our current classes, I’ve been asked to add three additional classes – close custody, and two additional minimum-security yards. I am also working to buy yoga blocks for my maximum-security students, which is about $300. The amount of money to continue providing yoga to the women of Perryville is not a finite number. I often think that if everyone I know gives $1, that in and of itself will make a difference.
If you want to donate, please use the attached link, and do ensure that your donation goes to prison yoga.
Thank you so much for reading about my experience. I am on a personal mission to normalize helping our incarcerated brothers and sisters. For everyone that takes the time to read this, we raise awareness.
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free
https://www.yogasarc.com/donations