ANUSARA YOGA MEXICAN PRISON PROJECT
Founded during Easter 2003, as the Parinaama Prison Project, this entirely voluntary effort to bring hatha yoga to the prisoners in the prison of Atlacholoaya, in the State of Morelos, about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Mexico City, is now firmly established and an accepted part of the prison’s activities.
The original idea was a dream Certified Anusara Teacher Ann Moxey had had for quite some time without finding the right contacts to be able to materialize it. When she was introduced to another volunteer at the prison by a friend, she asked to be put her in touch with the Director.
As a a former War Correspondent and Psychologist with a Specialization in Addiction Therapy and Bereavement Counseling, Ann was able to offer hatha yoga sessions as part of a course in Stress Management for inmates, an idea which was welcomed by Prison Director Lic. Miguel Angel Calvo, a Psychologist himself.
A long time resident in Mexico, Ann’s dream was to “give the disempowered back the key to their real freedom – whether they used it or not is up to them”, which is exactly what she said in her presentation to the inmates before the very first session.
The Director had already warned her that he’d sent her “all those the prison had no idea what to do with next”. That first session was indeed quite a colorful event, as she describes it, because most of the participants had been forced to go to it and they included several who were so damaged by drugs and psychiatric problems they had trouble following the verbal instructions, let alone doing asana. Since that session on, participation has been entirely voluntary and numbers have stood at approximately 20 to 30 inmates which corresponds to the original number of sticky mats generously donated for this project, by a local Iyengar Teacher Herta Rogg, of The Yoga Center in Mexico City.
The inmates found the sessions of Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Body Mind work and Meditation so helpfull in reducing their insomnia, agression, lack of concentration, physical limitations and craving that they requested another day be authorized to be able to practice on their own.
After two years of having Anusara Paarinama Yoga Prison Project in place, Prison Director Miguel Angel Calvo Barragan in an interview with the local Mexican magazine Milenio said: "It has been very useful for inmates with severe drug addiction and drinking problems who are facing long sentences, some of whom are HIV positive".
A growing waiting list of 50 inmates led Ann to request help from John Friend, her teacher and the founder of Anusara Yoga. At the 2005 Master Immersion in Denver, John presented the idea to the 280 teachers present and donations came in to purchase more sticky mats and props. John Friend matched the amount which had come in as his own personal contribution.
Present at the Immersion was Sue Hollingshead who was instrumental in requesting Gaiam for a further eighty mats, for the male prison and the female prison next door.
A Pay Pal account has been set up for donations for this program which has now been renamed ANUSARA'S PARINAAMA MEXICAN PRISON PROJECT in gratitude for the generosity shown by the ever growing and ever more expansive Anusara Kula (family).
It is our intention that this endeavour will now continue to flourish and attract more teacher volunteers to share the teaching load. Thanks to the open hearts of the local Mexican Anusara Kula , we now have more teachers teaching a class or so a month, (Bindu de la Parra, from Cuernavaca, Fernando Garcia Aguinaco, Liluli Millan, Adela Pablos, Tania Torres, Amado Cavazos, y Jorge Espinoza from Mexico City).
Por favor, podría saber si la Fundación ha realizado algúna investigación científica formal sobre los efectos de la Yoga en los internos?
soy Criminóloga de Panamá!
Posted by: ANGELA AMARÍS | April 19, 2011 at 07:32 PM
Nunca me imaginé que la sensación con la que saldría de una cárcel sería la de ternura. Sin embargo, fue el sentimiento que predominó al estar mi primer día compartiendo una sesión de yoga en el penal de Atlacholoaya, Morelos.
Con el objetivo de compartir la practica de Yoga en otros ámbitos, me llamó mucho la atención el proyecto que Ann ha llevado a cabo en ese penal desde hace más de dos años. Así que encantado acepté su invitación para sumarme al proyecto.
En las primeras sesiones en las que fui como maestro, los comentarios de los internos eran por demás motivantes:
“Gracias al Yoga deje de fumar” dijo uno. Órale dejar de fumar en una cárcel –pensé– se antoja difícil.
Un señor que llega a la clase con su ropa manchada de coloridos oleos, me platicó entusiasmado que desde que practica yoga pinta mejor. Dos sesiones después me enseñó uno de sus cuadros. Orgulloso me dijo que lo iba a vender ese fin de semana.
Otro interno practicante de yoga me contó al finalizar una práctica “El otro día uno quería echarme bronca (pleito), pero yo pensé ese es su problema no el mío y no le seguí la corriente, a los diez minutos me dejo en paz”.
Estas son muestras de cambios que el Yoga puede generar en un espacio así. La experiencia es rica para todos. Para mi guiar algunas prácticas de yoga en Atlacholoaya ha sido gratificante: hacer el saludo al sol mientras este se asoma al salón junto con 25 hombres más; su atención es un gran regalo. Y qué decir de recibir su aplauso y agradecimiento al final.
Un gozo es platicar con ellos al final de la sesión: atender sus inquietudes de cómo hacer una postura mejor, o cómo se dice saludo al sol en sánscrito. Inquietudes que reflejan que muchos de ellos han extendido esta practica más allá de las dos horas que podemos enseñarles semanalmente. De eso se trata la practica de yoga, creo, de llevarla más allá del tapete.
Una anécdota más me gustaría contar: Un preso me decía entusiasta “Quiero ir un día a la India” Se queda pensando mientras mira a su alrededor y me dice con muy buen sentido del humor “bueno antes tengo que salir de aquí ¿verdad?”. Muertos de la risa nos despedimos.
Con estas experiencias uno llega a vislumbrar a las personas que habitan dentro de esas paredes y no sorprende que bajo esa aparente coraza de cuerpos duros (algunos de ellos, no todos, hay algunos bien flexibles) haya ternura.
Posted by: Fernando | November 17, 2005 at 01:31 PM
We urge you to get involved in this wonderful project. Think not only of those you will help (the inmates) but also of the wonderful feeling you get when you help others. 20 USD will buy a good sticky mat so more inmates can enjoy the yoga classes provided by volunteer teachers.
Posted by: Eva Sander | October 21, 2005 at 02:12 PM