JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Megan Wridout said she owes her life to Yoga 4 Change. Without it, she said she would be another statistic in the Florida Department of Corrections.
She spent years in and out of jail but said she hit a turning point when she was offered a yoga class through Yoga 4 Change.
“It was such an incredible experience, especially in the light of I’m living my life in currently in a jail cell,” Wridout said. “Then being able to go out and feel that kind of peace within the jail, it was amazing.”
She said this program helped her with rehabilitation and prepared her for life after jail. She is now an instructor with the local nonprofit and helps others with recovery.
“I had tricked myself into thinking that my body is the enemy,” Wridout said. “So the yoga programming has taught me my body is an asset, and that it’s good.”
TRENDING STORIES:
College football player from Jacksonville killed while home for break, coaches say
Florida neighbor reports woman screaming ‘let me out.’ It was a parrot, deputies discover
Deadly crash on I-10 WB at Chaffee Road, FHP says
Person found shot dead near Crescent City Police station, man arrested
Yoga 4 Change is a nonprofit organization in Jacksonville. Its founder, Kathryn Thomas, said they first started in 2014 and have now grown to other facilities in South Florida.
“Yoga 4 Change brings trauma-informed yoga program to individuals who have experienced trauma, specifically veterans, incarcerated individuals, youth and people in recovery,” Thomas said.
The organization worked with Boston University to study their programs and its effects with a patient’s rehabilitation. She said their results found that trauma-informed yoga can help detect mental health symptoms, improve physical well-being and create positive coping skills.
“There’s a lot of different organizations that are doing the work that we’re doing, but because we’re able to validate the work, and to show the impact on both a quantitative and qualitative way, that’s why we’re here now,” Thomas said.
Because of these results, Yoga 4 Change has partnered with the Jacksonville’s Sheriff’s Office, Duval County Public Schools and other local originations for classes.
Duval County Clerk of Courts is the first in the country to require this yoga as part of an inmate’s sentence if they meet the requirements.
“We’re able to show that yoga helps self-connect your connection with self, and also with others,” Thomas said. “As opposed to being isolated and using and keeping that isolation cycle, you’re able to connect with others.”
© 2020 Cox Media Group
