“Maybe even you have underestimated yoga.” ~letter from an incarcerated youth

Tyler Reed has been teaching yoga at the Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility. The following is an article written by one of his students for the CJCF newsletter.

“Before participating in Mr. Reed’s yoga seminars most of us thought of yoga as a female thing. All stretch no sweat. But we couldn’t have been more wrong. Maybe even you have underestimated yoga. Mr. Reed taught us yoga does have stretches and breathing exercises. But yoga is a way to be free with oneself as well. But as well as a healthy work out, freeing ones mind and body, and it is unique. There is so much our class has learned. Still learning. For yoga stretches the mind as well. Some things have even helped the class with anger and thinking before acting as well. So if you think yoga’s easy; think again. yoga just might help your life perspective a bit. It has for this class of kids who took it serious. It’s calm, relaxing, and a bundle of hard work and pain. But we have fun and learn with it. Think yoga’s still lame. I think our class could say different. We started with only me, and 4 other youth. Now we have a lot more. Some might think they are not flexible. But everyone’s skeletons are different trust me. If you think your up to the challenge and willing to work yourself to the extremes physically, mentally and more than ask to join the class. You never know it really might be for you. It is fun, painful, sweaty, calm, and peaceful… yoga can take you and stretch you beyond belief.”