Why We Do It

We work with youth who are not only dealing with all the regular stresses of being teenagers, but are also confronted with some of life’s biggest challenges: community violence, family violence/abuse/neglect, poverty, addiction, marginalization and various other forms of trauma.

Yoga can provide an opportunity for youth to tap into the resources of strength and resilience they have within themselves; yoga can provide an opportunity to address traumas that have been experienced and empower youth to make choices around their bodies and their well-being, and yoga can provide a chance to see that we all have the ability to experience peace within ourselves, even if that begins with just one moment.

What Youth Are Saying

“I got involved in gangs when I was really young.  I used to think that I ran things in [jail].  Yoga’s made me more humble… it’s one of the few things that has changed my life”. 
J, New Leaf student, 19yrs.

“Our patterns of behaviours, change like the seasons, for positive motivation, you need positive reasons. I was jailed in a mindful prison, but faith has set me free, my mind body and soul have grown like a tree.”
Rap lyrics, G, New Leaf student, 18yrs.

“Last week I almost got into a fight. Then I remembered what you said about breathing, and I just took a couple of breaths and walked away.”
A, New Leaf student, 16yrs.

What Staff Are Saying

“I’ve received positive feedback from the youth regarding their yoga experience at King Street Detention. After class, they’ve noted that tension and frustrations have been released and a sense of calm, balance and peace is apparent. Many thanks to New Leaf Yoga for providing us with this life transforming opportunity and for bringing positive and warm energy into our space!”
Carole Varin - King Street Detention, Program Manager

“We specifically chose hard to handle youth with a history of violent behaviour.  Since their participation in the yoga program, I have noticed and documented many changes.  The residents have gone up in the [behavioural] level system, no behaviour reports, no violence, listening better, co operative and calmer.  Some of the youth we chose were ADHD, fetal alcohol and disruptive… I would definitely support any facility trying this program.”    C. Forsythe – former Volunteer Coordinator, Bluewater Youth Centre

“I have found the yoga program to be a wonderful complement to clinical programming. For those youth who have participated in yoga for some months, we begin to notice their stress level decrease; they seem more at peace. It teaches them to slow down and breathe slowly. This often decreases their level of impulsivity. They also develop some self-awareness through meditative practices.”
M. Johnston – Social Worker, Ministry Youth Centre

Related Articles

National Post, Jailhouse Biss-out
"Laura Sygrove teaches downward dogs to downtrodden kids."
www.nationalpost.com/jailhousebliss

Yoga Journal, Peace on the Inside
“For kids in the juvenile justice system, yoga and meditation offer the rare and life-changing opportunity to find calm and comfort within.”
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2945

Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, The Heartful Dodger
“A charismatic ex-con lures at-risk kids away from violence.”
http://www.mbaproject.org/MBA_Project_Tricycle_.pdf