August 5, 2003 ENCOURAGING SELF-RESPECT THROUGH YOGA
[reprinted from The Oregonian]
Summary: A new program, which began last month at Outside In, offers classes to homeless youths Colorful mats lie in rows across the floor, young people sprawled across them in yoga poses.
On all fours, with feet and hands flat on the floor, they stretch arms forward and legs back to achieve the Downward-Facing Dog. Then it's onto their feet for Mountain Pose, where they stand tall, breathing evenly. Next comes the Triangle Pose, where they stand with feet apart and bend sideways at the waist, putting one hand on the ground and stretching the other toward the ceiling.
The poses might be typical, but the students aren't. They're homeless, participating in a program called Street Yoga through Outside In, a social service agency that serves Portland's homeless youth and low-income adults.
The program is part of the nonprofit organization Living Yoga, which aims to teach yoga in nontraditional settings to people who might not otherwise be able to afford it but could benefit from its calming effects. The teachers, all volunteers, work with prisoners, people recovering from addictions and now homeless youth, said Sarahjoy Marsh of Portland, founder of Living Yoga.
Mark Lilly, a software engineer and one of Marsh's longtime students, started Street Yoga in October 2002. He wanted to share yoga with homeless youths because he thinks it will strengthen their minds and bodies. "The stronger you are inside out, the better you can deal with stuff," Lilly said. The group began working with Outside In's day program on July 24. Robin Corbo, a day program specialist, said the training is a positive addition. "A lot of the youth here are so busy trying to get work, housing, medical needs," she said. "To have the time to stop, breathe and lie down, I believe it encourages self-respect."
One young man, who cannot be named because of Outside In's confidentiality policies, said he felt better after doing the yoga for the first time. "I figured I'd give it a try because I heard it was good for your spiritual side," he said. " I feel better, more flexible." During his first session, he said he'd never been able to touch his toes and worried about being able to achieve certain poses. But he was surprised at how flexible he really was. Another youth said yoga helps his back and keeps him in shape. "I'm very active," he said. "I do martial arts and play basketball."
The volunteer yoga teacher, Matt Hartman, said he was pleased with the session. "I think it went great," he said. "People that were here were very receptive. "Yoga has made a big difference in my life and empowered me in a lot of ways," Hartman said. "And it's something I want to share."
Marsh said many of the students at her Portland studio, The Sanctuary: A Center for Yoga, Dharma and the Healing Arts, want to become volunteers. Marsh, who began volunteering in prisons in 1999, has inspired Lilly and others around the country. She said she gets calls from prison systems in other states that want to start their own yoga programs. "We're trying to organize," she said, "so that our program can be a pilot for other cities in the country."
Chaundra Perkins: 503-294-7610; chaundraperkins@news.oregonian.com
