Yoga Activist

Yoga for the Homeless

In an urban park, a middle-aged African American man sits on a bench. He appears to be doing nothing, maybe staring into space. But after a moment, the viewer notices that the man’s chest and abdomen are rhythmically rising and falling. His eyes are closed, and it suddenly becomes apparent that he’s meditating.

This man is a participant in yoga classes sponsored by Washington, DC-based Yoga Activist, Inc. Yoga Activist works to promote physical and mental well-being within under-served communities by developing and supporting sustainable yoga programs for the homeless, trauma survivors, and persons with drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness or physical impairment. To do this, Yoga Activist trains and connects yoga teachers and volunteers with social service agencies and organizations that serve at-risk and in-need populations.

Homeless students are often reluctant to join a class. Sometimes they watch from the sidelines, as the teacher gently explains basic postures: “Sit up straight, lengthen the spine, deepen the breath.” Often, the students sit on chairs, since their limited mobility makes sitting on the floor difficult. Ill-fitted clothing can hamper their movement, and if it has rained in recent days, their socks may be wet and they don’t want to remove their shoes.

But once they begin their practice, their world begins to shift. The stress they carry with them on the streets begins to dissolve, and they find that they can make themselves slightly taller, they can draw their shoulders slightly further back, and they can deepen their breath. By the end of the session, their furrowed brows have relaxed and they may even be smiling. They leave the class with great self-confidence and self-awareness, and they feel pride at being able to dedicate an hour of their week to self-healing. The transformation is remarkable.

Little by little, the men and women who attend Yoga Activist’s classes begin to feel that maybe there are possibilities to improve their lives. They won’t move into permanent housing after a yoga class, nor will their problems disappear. But they may begin to feel empowered to take the initial steps necessary to make changes, and they learn basic tools for coping while they confront life on the streets. A few moments of quiet meditation on a park bench proves to be much more constructive than taking a drink, and these first steps are the ones that will help transform their lives.

Yoga Activist continues to expand its programming both in the Washington, DC area and nationwide. Classes are currently taking place at over twenty-five social service agencies and other venues in DC, and teacher trainings take place quarterly. By supporting the mission of Yoga Activist, these tools of healing and empowerment will continue to be made accessible to those who need them most. Please donate.