Yoga Studio Stand Out: Rising Sun Yoga Studio

"Students of all levels, abilities and yoga experience are honored for their unique differences, limitations and talents"

            Business is business, but when a business reaches out to their immediate community there is nothing more admirable. Treatment of people is the test of any person’s level of enlightenment. Rising Sun Yoga is offering one of the most revolutionary programs that I have seen locally, a class called Peace Prints.

 I was blown away when I read the description on the schedule. It is a class for those who are re-entering society after an absence due to incarceration. “The men in this group are all working to re-align and re-balance their lives. The program is one of the entry vehicles that allows them to tap into their own depths, to help them understand their inner and often hidden motivations and to learn how to hold themselves to their highest standards.”

You cannot get more yoga than that, as its very definition is the union of the mind, body and soul (healing). From my personal research on the criminal justice system and criminal history something is sorely missing in our system of rehabilitation. American’s prisons are called revolving door as recidivism is as high as 65% nationwide. (www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=17) Why? A lot of people are set free without healing. Being locked in cells, sometimes twenty four hours a day is dehumanizing, who would not go right back to what they know?

And those courageous souls restarting their life find numerous challenges and prejudices. People get treated poorly when people learn of a criminal past, denied jobs by employers or shunned in general. They are left feeling worthless, empty and angry. How does that not breed more crime?

Bernard Shaw said “Criminals do not die by the hands of the law. They die by the hands of other men”. A yoga studio working to rehabilitate and help build the esteem of released prisoners, I call brave and revolutionary. To reach out to the downtrodden and needy of society, you can not be acting more in love.
            It is a program that is not open to the public but Rising Sun Yoga does offer one of the most varied disciplines of yoga classes under one roof that I have seen. I look forward to checking out the studio in the near future.  Check out their website at risingsunyoga.com for all of their listing.