Read our Mid-Year Programs Report!

I've visited a number of facilities in my life. Cousins in group homes, uncles in prisons, and aunts in mental institutions. Something about visiting Echo Glen felt different. Driving there in March, I didn't feel the same sense of angst or dread I usually feel.

Our first class was a group of six or seven boys. We started off with introductions and a check-in about what spring meant to each of us - it was sweet. Students were asked what they wanted to work on and we began to move our bodies. The girls were chattier, one Black girl in class was definitely the 'Mama' of the group. She was excited there were Black teachers present and didn't mind saying so. She sat directly to my left and peeked at me for cues on how to position her props.

About half way through I could feel this overwhelming sense of being in deep alignment with my values and life's purpose. I could see myself in those young people. I was in trouble a lot as a teen and young adult and what I needed most was to feel safe, which I didn't - not even in my own body. We closed class with a sound bath. You could feel the energy of the space shift and ground. It felt transcendent.

I held back tears for the two hours we were at the facility. I felt the joy of being around young people and I felt the rage of knowing they deserve more than to be put away. As we rebuild here at Yoga Behind Bars, we've started with our youth programs. Covid is not over - especially in prisons, jails, and detention centers - but we are moving forward. Check our our mid-year program report to see how ❤️

In community -

Gabby Oglesby
YBB Co-Executive Director