Today I witnessed a dream come true, right before my eyes. Ferosa, who is serving a life sentence, stepped into the shoes of a trainer.
She, to my knowledge, is the first ever incarcerated person who is leading a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training program inside prison walls. She helped screen and select 7 wonderful women to participate in our second YTT program at the Utah State Women’s Prison.
Today was Day One.
Ferosa spoke this dream two years ago. She declared, in her yoga training, that she had a dream that one day, she would be leading Yoga Assets trainings in the prison. She stepped into a new vision for her life, a choice to live “on purpose”. She set the wheels in motion. She was patient through the pandemic and kept working on the steps that would eventually make this program possible. She never let go of her dream, and refused to take no for an answer.
As we opened today within 15 minutes, I had the overwhelming assurance that I was exactly where I was always supposed to be. I shared my Grandma Annies’ words with the women. “Your past doesn’t define you, your past prepares you.” Every single step we have taken, every experience, got us HERE. And here is the only place where we can do the work of living into our dreams.
What do you dream of? What would you like to create? Your past has prepared you. Follow Ferosa’s lead. Here are the steps:
1.Make your declaration. Say it in the present tense.
2. Create a vision. The more details the better. The Universe is listening!
3. Get in action. Set the wheels in motion, one small action at a time.
4. Don’t take no for an answer.
5. Be patient.
If you need one more reason to step out of your comfort zone and move in the direction of your dreams…look at the picture at the top of the page. This is Jeanne, another graduate of our YTT program, inside the prison. She has been out for two years, and this picture captured her teaching yoga to hundreds of yogis on the lawn of the Utah State Capitol. In her words, “I did my training in the Utah State Prison, and look at me now, teaching yoga at the Utah State Capitol.”
Follow your dreams. Make a difference. Your past has prepared you.
Julie Jones
Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you, Denise.
Denise Druce
Thank you Julie. Glad it resonates with you.