Christmas in Juvenile hall

Today was truly special. Christmas Day happened to be on a Tuesday, when we teach yoga to the kids in Central Juvenile Hall. We were excited to create a special class with the boys & girls in the gym, Rajashree Choudhury, our Board Member, taught the class and brought her son Anurag Choudhury. 

There were several URY yoga teachers who practiced with us which always creates a great energy! We brought presents gathered from Bikram Yoga Huntington Beach, Bikram Yoga Pasadena, Dots cupcakes, Rajashree & Anurag and The Moore Family. The kids devoured the Subway sandwiches and the homemade brownies from Alexandra.

This picture speaks to me the most. Rajashree brought kids up to join her and one boy who has never done yoga came up and did a great posture! This picture is of one of our students who loves to learn about yoga and watching Rajashree work with him was truly the gift of what yoga is about. Helping, sharing, offering and what this student takes away is encouragement, hope, and a future yoga champion (for all we know). We have seen such fast improvement with his willingness, we all root and cheer for more good things to come- for all of them- but imagine we offer something for the kids to look forward to when they "get out". Many are foster kids heading to placement or probation camps. Many of them have nowhere to go. 

The yoga community, UpRising Yoga, intends to be there offering yoga to them as a source of healing, .

For me this is the true meaning of yoga: sharing who you are, becoming who you are...as I told one of the girls that came up and gave me a big thank you hug, I was in this same juvenile hall when I was your age- life is good now, and it can be for you too.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday's to you all,

Namaste