This is a story about bad news. That could have been good news. About a reporter that had an opportunity to lift people up, and chose to drag them down. I am going to rewrite her story.
But first, a little back story.
When I was 13, my Dad went to prison. I remember being so mortified when his crime was printed in the local paper. Shortly after that , we moved to another town, I went to a new school. I hoped that his crime would be buried, and I never talked about him to my new friends. My visits to the prison were a source of shame and embarrassment.
He passed 3 years ago, and I still get a pit in my stomach when someone asks “what did he do?” Why? Because his 78 years on this planet shouldn’t be summed up in one sentence, the worst thing he ever did. My Dad played every instrument by ear. He was an artist in almost every medium. He taught my boys the name of every kind of tree. He hoarded. He laughed a lot, mostly at his own jokes. And he was my greatest teacher. He taught me the power of forgiveness. 
My Dad was an alcoholic. His drinking cost him dearly. 15 years in prison for mistakes he made. He missed my wedding, and the birth of his first Grandson. So when he got out, thank all the powers that be, he stayed sober. We got 20 good years with him before he passed. My boys didn’t know he was in prison, until he was gone. It was not my story to tell, and he chose to leave his past behind him.
After my Dad’s death, I felt more free to share my experience. I was finally ready to heed my mentor, and go back to my wounds. I returned to prison, this time as a yoga teacher. To hear the whole story of how that happened, check out my Ted talk.
So why this story now? Because last week, all of my old feelings of shame and embarrassment were drudged up again. By a not-so-well meaning reporter.
In my TED talk, I introduce a woman who is serving a life sentence. After she graduated from our 200 hour program, she went on to complete a full 500 hours of training, much of it through the mail and phone calls, during the quarantine. On Wednesday, a handful of us were invited to attend her 500 Hour graduation.
I remember distinctly the day when, in the 200-Hour program, Ferosa declared her new “stand”. She stepped into a new narrative. “As long as I am here, I will serve.” And serve is what she does. During quarantine, she taught 5-6 yoga classes a day, to the women who were isolated, anxious, and stressed out. She developed a yoga program for the women in the mental health unit, and the director is amazed at how this is helping the women. Ferosa shares yoga tips daily with the officers, and finds that it makes the whole prison environment more peaceful and livable. She lifts people up every day, in every way.
One after another, the women who take her classes stood and acknowledged her influence in their lives. They all wrote letters letting her know what a positive influence she has been to them.
Most of these women will be out eventually. They will be our neighbors, and because of yoga, and Ferosa’s work on the inside, they have tools and life skills to contribute to their communities in a positive way.
Jeanne Mace is a wonderful example of this. She finished her 200 Hour certification on the inside. She has been out now for two years and is doing wonderful things in the community. She teaches yoga to seniors, helps our aging friends with affordable housing, and last week, taught a class at the State Capitol to hundreds of people.
Jeanne had the courage to tell the crowd that she was trained to teach yoga in the Utah State Prison, and said with a slight grin, “look at me now, teaching yoga at the Utah State Capitol!”
It’s a success story. It’s a feel good story. It’s a story of hope, of prison reform, and of second chances. It’s a story about the present and the future. Not about the past. None of us deserve to be pinned to the worst thing we’ve ever done, especially when we are doing so much to move forward.
I am sorry that Annie Knox and her editor Brian West didn’t see it this way.
Friends, do me a favor. Stop asking the question “what did you do”? When you meet a person who has served time, ask what they are doing now. And more importantly, what they look forward to. Let’s look forward with them.
You never cease to amaze me , Denise. A heartfelt message that you delivered so well. You’ve come full circle when you’ve taken a stand & initiate a movement of honoring people for where they are instead of where they’ve been. An absolute fantastic job my sweet friend.
Thank you Krissy, your acknowledgment brings tears to my eyes. It was a hard story to tell, and so unfortunate that the writer couldn’t have just told it. I love you!
Amazing story Denise this story was told so much better by you! “We are not the worst thing we’ve done!”
Thank you Emily! The world needs to know how hard so many are working to stay sober, and make the world a better place. I love you lady!
Beautiful, meaningful message. Thank you for sharing this perspective and experience so I can grow.
Thank you Jeanette. I appreciate you reading, and considering the point. Let’s ask better questions of each other. xo
Denise. What a story. I am crying and smiling at the same time. Such an inspirational story. Thanks for your commitment to doing the work. I am so proud to call you my friend.
Sue Gerber
Thank you Sue. It is from my heart. These women deserve to have their story told, from the positive they are doing. xo
Beautifully said Denise. 💕
Thank you friend.
Denise…thank you thank you thank you. The lives you touch wherever you go and the incredible things you do. Congrats to these women for learning, healing and teaching they do together ❤️
Thank you Eva xo
Years ago, during the HIV epidemic, I went to the prison repeatedly to deliver positive HIV results to new inmates. When I first started doing this the charge nurse would always tell me what crime the person had committed. After a few visits, I asked her politely to stop. Each person that I was working with was receiving devastating news, they needed a human to connect with, to give them hope, not someone to judge them and make them feel like they did something to DESERVE getting a virus that, at the time, was most likely a death sentence. Even though I was alone with those who had committed heinous crimes, at that moment, they were grieving, and needed comfort. Thank you for taking yoga into this space and bringing the peace that comes with it to those who need it most.
What good, and hard work you did there Rebecca. Yes, you can’t unhear some things. We’re all human and it’s hard to get past some of the stories. That’s why we don’t ask, ever. We choose to see these people standing in front of us as people with dignity, and a future. Thank you for your comment. xo
Denise, Thank you for honoring these women I love so much. Ferosa is the heartbeat of that facility. She gives so generously. I love you & am inspired by your resilience. -Caroline Ashby
I adore you lady. Thank you for reading, and supporting her.
I commend your wonderful work and beautiful words. You make the world a better place!!
Thank you Deb. It is truly an honor.
thanks for this story of grace, dignity, and the contributions to making this world a better place through the many acts of service by all these women.
Thank you Bill. They are truly inspiring to me.
All I can say is that news (reporting a perception) in it’s worse form selectively sensationalizes our warts. The punitive, shamebased and at times from our own spiritual leaders …a means of hiding and controlling. This does NOT define YOU. It is but a small part of your story. I hope those truly see the genuine good that yoga forward has performed. What would happen if we stopped giving attention to that shame based society in all it’s form. Hum! Food for thought.
You’re so right Kim. Wonder if we could “mandate” that? haha
Wow – what a story Denise. The world is so much brighter due to all the work you do!
Thank you Beth. These are very special women, their story deserves to be told.
This is what the world needs! We are not what we have done – thank you for seeing people as people and sharing this with the world !
I agree, we need more of seeing people as people!!
Is there a greater example of selfless, true love, willing to sacrifice to bring meaningful help those unfortunates that have fallen. Reminiscent of Mother Theresa.
Sam, I am afraid I receive more from these women than I give. Thank you for your comment.
Ferosa and Jeanne are QUEENS and I love them! We are in the Age of Aquarius and times, well, they are a changing! ✊🧘🏻♀️💕
YES!!! I agree Tannith.
This is extraordinary Denise! I am so grateful you have rewritten this story and can share the magnificence of Ferosa and all the women in this beautiful way. Your full circle story is so inspiring and uplifting and needed to be told!!
I have chosen not to even read the original publication. I did not even want to engage in the sensationalism of what they tried to dredge up and highlight! My experience inside those walls and the inspiration of all of those women changed’ my life and impacted how I see incarcerated women and their struggles to try and leave the sentence behind! ANYTHING we can do to have them see themselves beyond the sentence, the limitations, and the labels that others and they themselves put themselves in, is a lifelong gift indeed! Yoga forward and those of us supporting your mission, are doing this, which is indeed moving and looking forward with them!! Thank you for your stand and commitment to not only be there lifting them up, transforming their lives with yoga, and also setting the record straight with this article. I love you!
Thank you love. So grateful to have shared this path with you.
Denise, apparently Annie Knox is unfamiliar with Latter-day Saint doctrine which is a surprise since she works for KSL which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Perhaps, if Annie Knox could familiarize herself with the doctrine of repentance, she would have been a better journalist pertaining to what might have been a much more positive story.
Boyd K. Packer, among other prominent Apostles and Prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were adamant that the Atonement is for everyone.
It is evident that Ferosa Bluff has applied the full measure of principles of the Atonement.
Perhaps, Annie Knox could take a page out of Carole Mikita’s standard of journalism.
Irony, Ferosa has converted to the LDS faith since she has been incarcerated. I am pretty sure she is living the principles of atonement.
So beautifully said. Thank you Denise for taking yoga to people in all walks of life. Yoga can transform body mind & spirit & teach us to breathe & to forgive.
Namaste dear teacher🙏🏽
Love you Gail.