GOGI Yoga

Amy Rose Yoga

THE GOGI YOGA PROJECT

Drawing by GOGI Girl

What is GOGI? GOGI stands for Getting Out By Going In, a non-profit organization designed by and dedicated to the empowerment of incarcerated men, women and children. GOGI is pronounced like Yogi. GOGI was created by Coach Mara Leigh Taylor, who, as a psychology student, decided to dedicate her life to the possible changes in the minds and hearts of the 2.2 million incarcerated men, women and children in the United States.

GOGI is a way of looking at changing behavior and has a set of empowering tools, which help people take control of their lives and find internal freedom.

What is GOGI Yoga? GOGI Yoga is physical movements for the body, breathing and meditation practices for the mind which incorporate the GOGI tools. The intention of GOGI Yoga is the outcome of permitting the individual to powerfully experience the GOGI tools in every cell of their body.

What is GOGI Yoga up to? Currently GOGI Yoga has many projects in the works. There are 2-3 GOGI Yoga classes offered a week at the Central Regional Detention Facility, an all female jail facility in Los Angeles. Also being offered at CRDF is a GOGI Yoga teacher training, which trains inmates to instruct GOGI Yoga classes. The Sheriffs department has been so supportive of this project that our inmate GOGI Yoga instructors are teaching Yoga in other modules in the jail.

Future GOGI Yoga Projects:

GOGI Yoga Manual: A GOGI Yoga book that covers simple Yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditations.

GOGI Yoga Goddess Wear: T-shirt line designed by the inmates to raise funds for GOGI Yoga.

GOGI Yoga DVD

TESTIMONIALS

“Send Back my wheelchair, please…”
There is no worse feeling than being confined to watch others participate in activities sitting in a wheelchair. O.K., so this is how I felt just 3 short weeks ago upon arriving to GOGI. Then along came someone called “Coach Amy”. I thought to myself –“not another yoga session sitting in the corner as a spectator. ? Boy was I in for a surprise! Coach Amy invited me to participate in her (what I call --- plus size friendly) yoga class. I felt O.K. that day, so I said to myself “what the heck, what have I got to lose, I can always quit and use my spinal disease problem s an excuse to quit early.” That day I was able to make it through almost 75% of the yoga class… modified of course.

Two more weeks have passed, and as usual I sit near the iron bars away from the class so I have something strong to hold onto to peel myself to my feet. In today’s class I was able to participate 95% of the time and I even learned how to get up from the floor on my own for the first time in over 7 years. By the way, I’m 330 pounds, 51 years old and 100% disabled.

"Forgiveness"

I really enjoy GOGI Yoga. It inspires me to forgive myself and truly let go of the blame.

Today I really felt your spirit giving strength and positivity. Thank you for being so beautiful to us.

I love you for believing in us and taking your time to inspire us and give us hope. You have hit my heart so deeply.

"Yoga Goddess"
When I attended my very first Yoga class with Coach Amy, I thought, “I don’t think I can do this! I’m not into aerobics or exercise and I’m really not that flexible. Yikes!” But I gave it a try and what do you know? It wasn’t that bad. Each week, I felt a little more flexible and a little more into the mood of the Yoga. We incorporate some meditation into our Yoga classes, and I’ve begun to feel the most amazing mind-body connection. This is something I’ve never really felt before. Now, when I do Yoga, I feel so at peace with myself and empowered, like a goddess!

If you are interested in getting involved with GOGI Yoga please write me at:
amy@gettingoutbygoingin.org

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