MEDLOCK
Yoga for All
The Dharma Project is creating inclusive, representative yoga culture By Clare S. Richie
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10 June 2021 |
The Dharma Project is now providing yoga instruction to men at a second prison — Burress Facility in Forsyth — thanks to equipment funded by MailChimp. “We’re excited about how this work can expand to other prison facilities in Georgia,” said Rutu Chaudhari, Dharma Project Executive Director. The Metro Reentry Facility in DeKalb County was its first prison partner. The nonprofit works to bring yoga and meditation to those who experience high levels of stress or trauma and believes that regardless of race, location, gender, sexual orientation, or financial state – everyone should have access to these self-care practices. Chaudhari felt the healing power of yoga 22 years ago. “I was going through a lot around violence I experienced in earlier years, dealing with body image and being a woman of color in the South. I found myself getting anxious and depressed all the time,” Chaudhari shared. “Immediately, I loved the empowerment it was giving me with my own body and emotional response to things.” She began practicing diligently, went on to earn her certification and opened her own studio. “It became very apparent that different
Dharma Project’s inaugural Give Yoga Get Yoga teacher training graduates. (Photo by Inari Brianna)
groups of people weren’t doing yoga – whether it was men, people with different abilities/disabilities or people of color.” Chaudhari said. “When I see people who look like me participating in or leading in certain things, I am more receptive to the possibility that it is something for me.” Driven by the intention to create a more inclusive and representative yoga culture, she founded The Dharma Project, which has served more than 550 people since 2016. Two years ago, Chaudhari began partnering with the Metro Reentry Facility to help support the re-entry of men finishing the last 24 months of their sentence. A few participants wanted to go further and explore yoga certification. “I was excited about providing them with another option for when they return to society; to earn income by showing others how to take care of themselves” Chaudhari said. In January 2020, she began an informal certification process at the facility, while awaiting formal approval from the Georgia Department of Corrections. “All I asked was that they find three to five guys [not in our program] to teach on a regular basis. We had 25 guys in our program and a lot who would not do yoga in that group APD Officer Chuma Chapman shows off a yoga pose. (Photo by Rutu Chaudhari) environment. But if guys within At l a n t a I n t o w n Pa p e r. c o m
