| Some Reflections on Teaching Yoga to Prisoners in Cambodia
The teaching and learning of Yoga can occur in any environment and only requires a place to learn and practice, a dedicated and competent teacher, and learners who are open to its teachings and willing to make the effort to learn.
This is something that this writer has reflected on more over the last three months as he has taken on new responsibilities of teaching Yoga classes in Cambodia in addition to his regular classes in Bangkok, Thailand.
These new classes in Cambodia have been taught to three groups of people, those being individuals who have been disabled by land mines, drug addicts and substance abusers in recovery, and men serving time in prison.
Each one of these individual groups has presented a different set of factors to reflect on.
Of the three groups, this writer would say that the men in prison are the most challenging to teach, because of both their situation and how this writer perceives their situation.
Of course, perceptions change as we become more familiar with something and learn and grow through our interaction with it.
The men in prison have varied futures to look forward to with some having to remain in prison for many years to come or their life, while others will be released, but upon their release, may return to an environment with limited options and opportunities and in a state of mind that lacks clarity or focus.
Even though the teachings and disciplines of Yoga offer people a strong foundation for living, some prisons and prison systems are more supportive of what Yoga teaches a man then others.
What this means is that those prisons and prison systems that provide reasonable and healthy food and opportunities for self – study and solitude will be more likely to elevate a man then those that do not.
It is hard to say if Cambodian prisons are at present able to provide men with these things.
Because the men face uncertain and varied futures, one wonders what they are getting out of the practice, except an opportunity to get out of their cells. That in itself is something, but it also noted that some come to the Yoga sessions not to learn Yoga but to ask for money and other things or request some assistance with their case.
Because some men are shy or do not know how to ask questions or what to ask, or talk about themselves and their feelings, it is sometimes difficult to gauge what kind of progress they are making from their practice or what kind of insights they are generating.
Also, since there are over 500 men in the prison, but only one class is held per day consisting of 22 men, the regular attendance of all of those people who are interested in Yoga is not possible, so classes have both new and old learners of Yoga attending. This does not present any kind of formidable challenges to teaching but can mean that it is difficult at times to build on previously taught concepts.
Each time that this writer walks into this prison he feels more comfortable with being there and the people that he meets, knows and teaches there.
Each time that this writer walks into this prison he feels a responsibility to explain and teach Yoga to the very best of his ability, but is sometimes discouraged by the lack of attention by some of the people who come to the class.
And each time that this writer walks into this prison he wants to act and react to the men in it with loving kindness and compassion, but realizes that he is limited as to what he can do as regards this.
But along with this, there is the realization that a prison can provide an environment where an individual can make great progress with Yoga because of the lack of other sensual impingements and desires to run to.
As with the teaching and learning of Yoga in any environment, be it an ashram, health club, someone’s apartment or home, or a prison, much of the responsibility of making Yoga a fruitful part of an individual’s life is their dedication and motivation and the teacher’s ability to guide and support the cultivation of these characteristics on their part.
©2006 John C. Kimbrough |
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Yoga
