Safe Journey

Two of my Thursday Boys get out of jail today, and I am so happy that they have completed their time and are ready to move forward with their life. It is such a bittersweet moment because they have been in yoga for the entire 5 1/2 months that I have been teaching at JDC, they are strong yogi's and so talented--they say they will come to the class on the outs, but we'll see--I'm humbled and blessed to know that as they leave, they have the tools that yoga provides to help up everyday--breath, mindfulness, center, and the belief that their intrinsic goodness is what guides their heart. These boys are warriors, they have fought more battles in their 16 and 17 years than most adults will fight in a life time---they have been strong through the battle and graceful through the learning. Life is crazy and the ability to see your way clear of a lifetime of struggle is hard--imagine having more than half your life be a constant, everyday struggle just to survive. I'm not talking about surviving without cable or a cell phone, but survive the bleak home life where you have to worry about food, your siblings, eviction a constant everyday battle, horrific school life, getting teased because you don't have the new clothes, or you are pulled into a life of drugs, and having no where to find a safe harbor to just be yourself. It's always interesting to me how well these kids do in jail, I mean they do so well, they have chores, they have school and they have time to just breathe--they don't have those things at home and they want to be anywhere but home---many times kids return to jail because it is their safe harbor from the chaos that is their life. I feel so blessed to be able to bring yoga into these kids --all they want is to breathe without feeling suffocated--just breathe. I wish all of the kids who get out to face their world a safe journey and remind them that their gift is their breath and to go to the breath---and know that in their breath is their intrinsic goodness.