YYAR Summer Programming in Ottawa
May 29, 2008
by Sara Falconer
From the ottawaexpress website. Click to read story on the ottawaexpress site.

You may be looking forward to kicking back this summer, but Ottawa agencies that support youth at risk are at it harder than ever. And the kids are getting put to work too.

Over 180 youths from low-income neighbourhoods across the city will be placed in the workforce through the McGuinty government's summer job program, part of a $1-million investment that includes youth outreach workers and school programs. Jobs in recreation, business and youth leadership, and nine positions with the Ottawa Police Service, are being co-ordinated by the Youth Services Bureau (www.ysb.on.ca).

Eloi Proulx, a founding member of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), says that the program is a step in the right direction, but should be more than a stopgap measure.

"A jobs program for summer is nice, but it should be permanent, and it should lead to other jobs," he says. "Otherwise it's not a poverty reduction program. It just keeps people busy."

One local group that's taking a holistic approach is Yoga for Youth at Risk (YYAR). The project has expanded quickly since 2004, offering classes to 400 kids in the past year. A handful of staff and volunteers adapt their yoga teachings to a wide variety of needs: kids in poverty at home and on the street, young women with eating disorders, pregnant and parenting teenage mothers, and children with mental disabilities.

Program co-ordinator Jessica Earle-Meadows sees a growing self-awareness of their bodies and minds in kids who participate in YYAR.

"A lot of them experience tension in their lives for whatever reason. And to know that they have that space in their lives where they can be calm, where their mind doesn't need to be racing, makes a difference," she says.

It's about stress management, sure. But more than that, it's about providing options to "kids who feel like they don't have any options." Email radha@ca.inter.net to donate much-needed funds and time to YYAR.

The National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA also provides options to kids who might otherwise make bad choices. "We do know that the witching hour is the time between the end of school and when parents return home," says Tosha Rhodenizer, vice-president of Membership and Health, Fitness and Recreation.

On June 1, the Carlingwood Y at 200 Lockhart Ave. will host the first annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day, in recognition of the growing rate of obesity in children.

"This is not a childhood issue. This is an issue that has societal implications, and there's a need for families to be engaged and educated," she says.

Children and families are invited to drop in for a poolside beach party, ball hockey and tae kwon do. Visit www.ymcaywca.ca for a full schedule.

YOGA FOR YOUTH OUTREACH
Jessica Earle-Meadows

Yoga for Youth Outreach is now entering its fourth season of service, to the delight of those involved in the program. Those that run the program believe that everyone regardless of age, race, health, income, gender and religion has the right to have access to the benefits of yoga. In support of this ideal, subsidized classes are offered to ‘vulnerable youth’ through the Radha Yoga Centre’s Youth Outreach program. The vision is to provide marginalized young people with a safe space to learn about self-care and self-esteem, and to encourage healthy life style choices. The aim is to promote improved coping strategies and positive participation in the community by maintaining physical and mental health.

Yoga for Youth Outreach teachers, Jessica Earle-Meadows and Amanda Lynne Jahnke, find that, with relaxation, silence, and reflection come the opportunity for positive life decisions and self-regard. From this place of introspection and relaxation, the teachers encourage their students to find new meaning and possibilities in their lives. While yoga classes may not provide the core survival needs of vulnerable populations, like food, water, shelter, and immediate medical care, they allow for the releasing of physical tension and mental and emotional stress, which are symptoms of core concerns.

Working with extremely diverse populations, ranging from homeless youth to university students with eating disorders, Yoga for Youth Outreach speaks to the wider whole of Ottawa’s youth communities, and their common need for self-esteem and relaxation.
One young woman from Hopewell Eating disorder clinic writes: “Practicing yoga for me initiated an exploration of the connection between body, mind and spirit. As somebody who is challenged with body image issues, yoga has helped me to develop the relationship between my body and mind. The trust between my body and mind has grown and this has been a great tool for me in overcoming my struggles with bulimia.”

Some of the classes are beginning to include agency staff. A community worker from Operation go Home says of the class: “For someone like me working in social services, this kind of relaxing yoga, where I’m connecting with myself and my breath, is vital. I can go out and involve myself in crisis prevention from a centred and confident place.”

This year’s Yoga for Youth Outreach currently provides classes for seven organizations, including: Bethany Hope and St. Mary’s (centres for young or expecting mothers), McHugh’s (a High school for those under the care, custody, or correctional facilities of the Ministry of Education and Health), Hopewell Eating Disorder Clinic, Youth Services Bureau (an outreach centre for homeless or special needs youth), Elizabeth Wynwood (an alternative high school for young adults), and Christie Lake Kids (a program for low-income children).

Does YOGA provide Basic Needs? 
An article on teaching yoga to youth at risk on the streets, on baby blankets, in community kitchens and high school basements.
This outreach program is made possible in part through a generous donation from the Ottawa Community Foundation.
by Amanda Jahnke

Picture a 16 year old girl - dressed all in black, with piercings reflecting her hidden innocence. Black hair, black eyeliner, black boots, black clothes and chains decorating her malnourished body.  Now picture her  - along with 14 other teenagers - standing in the tree pose, giggling; arms flailing in the air, focusing on one spot on the floor.

Picture a 17 year old girl with borrowed clothes and a hole in one of her socks.  Excited about dressing up as a cat for Halloween, anxious about who will be around to hold her hand when she gives birth to her little girl next month, and so grateful every week to come to a yoga class free of charge.

Why do these kids come? What do they get out of yoga?
My name is Amanda Lynne Jahnke, and I have been directing the YOGA for Youth at Risk (YYAR) program for the Ottawa Radha Yoga Centre since January 2006. I have taken these questions with me into a women’s shelter, an eating disorder support center, mental health programs and drop-in centers throughout the city.

Why do young people in these programs come? Initially, they come to yoga for relaxation.  Also, when a young person is functioning from a place solely driven by survival and security, the opportunity to take off their armour in a safe place is what they are seeking.

One young woman who attends yoga classes at the Youth Services Bureau drop–in centre downtown said, “The classes have offered me unobstructed introspection.” This is an apt description.  Once we have collectively entered into that calm place, yoga then becomes a solace, a respite within ourselves where we find a sense of self in amidst the chaos.

How does yoga benefit these kids in a concrete, sustainable way? How can yoga get kids to practice safe sex or stop doing drugs? How can yoga make you a better mom?
Yoga brings quality into our lives.  It’s not gymnastics – its built on a philosophy of well-being for the mind as well as the body. It is connecting to a very real place inside, a solid, grounded place; a place to make clearer choices about what is really important. The simple breathing and visualization techniques that are offered in the classes are tools for healthy coping strategies that these young people can take with them into the rest of their lives.  One young woman eloquently said, “Physical relaxation opens up an avenue of feeling connected to my pure soul.”  Several young mothers who have attended classes at St. Mary’s Home also shared that, “It has been really good to learn about calming myself down.  Now I know that it is my choice to be angry or not.” “Yoga helps me concentrate.  It shows me that there are options to being so emotional.”

I cannot say that practicing yoga is going to eliminate crystal meth or cocaine from the streets, but I can say that it is providing these marginalized youth with an opportunity to self-reflect and gain a healthier perspective on how they want to create their lives.  This was exemplified by one young person’s experience when he said, “I understand more what it means to make choices that are good for me.  I can feel the decisions that make me feel good.”

So, does yoga provide basic needs?
In my experience of teaching these young people, yoga is providing them with something that the basic needs of food, water and shelter does not nourish. . . they’re hungry for something more.   I see that yoga is opening a door to having greater compassion toward themselves and others and an awareness of how their choices affect their lives.  Their experience with yoga is about finding greater balance and inner harmony – and for some of them, all it takes is a 1 hr. class.

Yoga for Youth at Risk Program Presentation

What a success! Yoga for Youth at Risk (YYAR) is happening in Ottawa! Friday night, June 2, Amanda was ready and keyed up to present the program she’s been offering this past year. She wasn’t sure who would come. When we opened the doors, people just kept coming in and coming in. We welcomed representatives from several agencies, yoga teachers, people from the general public interested in the program, RYC volunteers and youth from various YYAR venues. We literally had a full house!

It was particularly wonderful to have the youth come out, a reflection of Amanda’s natural, easy, welcoming way with them. What a huge step, to go from an intervention agency to breaching the doors of the RYC. It takes the program to another level and helps us at the RYC achieve our goal of reaching out to and involving youth in our community in the Centre itself.

Janet started the evening with an explanation of the Ashram and its Young Adult Program and the connection of these to the YYAR program. She also gave an overview of our centre and the volunteer work that keeps it going and acknowledged the great work Sarada Eastham did last year in getting this program off the ground. Amanda followed with a talk about her activities at the various agencies and the impact the program has had on herself and the participants. A couple of the youth as well spoke about their personal experience of taking yoga classes through the program. This part of the evening concluded with a song that Amanda had written about her experience this past 6 months managing the YYAR program.

After a snack, Janet and Amanda asked for suggestions for improving the program. Many good ideas were generated which we will be following up on, including forming a network of volunteer supporters, collecting used yoga mats for distribution at various agencies and fundraising activities at other yoga centres for the program At the end of the evening, Amanda announced, to our delight, that she would be staying on for another year. This will provide continuity with the youth and the agencies which will go a long way to further strengthening the program.

The YYAR program is very dynamic and exciting and is increasing the awareness of the RYC in Ottawa. It’s amazing to realize that just a year and a half ago we were at the conceptual stage. The presence of so many youth and community agencies for Amanda’s presentation is evidence of its credibility.

In September 2004, the Ottawa Radha Yoga Centre established an innovative new outreach program: Yoga for Youth At Risk. This program is directed by our qualified Young Adult Coordinators, who are selected annually to carry on the work, gain experience and share their gifts.

By partnering with several youth-focused groups in the city, we are now offering weekly classes – free of charge - at:

Youth Services Bureau a downtown emergency Drop in Centre
St. Mary’s Home an advocacy for high risk pregnant women
YouthNet a Mental Health intervention program
Hopewell an Eating Disorder support Centre
Youville Centre a high school for parenting young women
Elizabeth WynWood Alternate High School
United Sisters a low-income program for girls 11 - 14
And a local Women’s shelter

A word from our Youth Coordinator. . .

Yoga: one big shining ball of positive influence!
Amanda Lynne Jahnke is currently teaching as well as forming new relationships with youth agencies in the community. Her goal is to create a firm foundation for this program in order to make it sustainable for years to come.

When every single one of these youth step into the room – they are taking a step towards a better life. They are taking responsibility for themselves, and taking the initiative not only towards healthy coping strategies, but towards positive self-development, and ultimately, towards self-care. There are a lot of other places they could be, a lot of other influences out there. It fills me up so much to see them coming back – week after week.

These classes give them a safe place to be themselves – and be OK with themselves. An introduction to yoga and meditation is not only encouraging them to relax and release their muscles, but it also is allowing them to do the same in their minds. Finding that safe quiet place INSIDE of themselves that they can trust.- Amanda Lynne Jahnke

Yoga in the community -- reaching out to At-Risk Youth

In January, Amanda Jahnke arrived in Ottawa to continue the work of Sarada Eastham, coordinating the Ottawa Radha Centre’s outreach program for at-risk youth.

The program started in October of 2004. It is funded mostly through donations and fundraising events, though Amanda is looking into other forms of funding, including grants and partnerships with community based agencies.

Amanda is continuing programs with homeless youth at the Youth Services Bureau, pregnant teens and teens with young children at St. Mary’s Home, and women staying at a local women’s shelter.

She has also initiated partnerships with several new agencies , and has started teaching a weekly class at Youville Centre, which provides high school education for young mothers. The month of March is quickly filling up with classes as well, including Hopewell, a support group for girls and women with eating disorders and Youth Net, a regional mental health program run by youth, for youth.

“The response from the community has been astounding”, she says.

Amanda heard about the internship when she met Sarada at the Yasodhara Ashram in British Columbia. “It incorporates all my ideals -- sustaining myself with yoga and sharing my experience with youth. When I was young, I wasn’t able to express myself, but through yoga I have found a way to let go of anxiety, tension and anger. There is a sense of independence and acceptance - no one is telling me what to do - I think that yoga encourages that. Choice. And taking responsibility for myself.”

Amanda will be working in Ottawa until mid-June. Her goal is to build a strong foundation for the interns who will follow her, so that women, girls, children and youth can continue to benefit from yoga for years to come.

So far, the youth internship program has been funded through donations and fundraising events like the Centre’s annual silent auction. To support the program or learn more about it, you can contact Amanda at radha@ca.inter.net or call her at the Radha Yoga Centre at (613) 236-3545.

Women’s Shelter   Sarada Eastham, teacher
It has taken some time for the women to open up to my presence, but each time that I come, I feel that I am more welcomed. There is a steady group that comes to the class each week, usually joined by two or three others, who settle themselves on the floor between the couch and end tables for end relaxation or other reclining poses.

It has been an incredible process for me to witness the healing that has taken place in the classes. One woman, who suffers body ticks due to post-traumatic stress syndrome, is working through the mental and spiritual issues surrounding her physical condition. She uses the classes as a time to ease into her body and to remember the Light within. Another woman, who the staff tells me has never participated in any class before, smiles more than she used to and jumped up and down in joy when she surprised herself by touching her toes for the first time since she was a little girl.

I am constantly surprised at how little time it takes for this healing to occur: 1 hour a week. It is so simple and yet so profound.

Yoga to Grow On
For this past year, Sarada Eastham has been a Young Adult intern with the Ottawa Radha Yoga Centre. She has just completed teaching several outreach classes, including one for at-risk pregnant and parenting young women.

It makes my heart smile to look around the class. Three young mothers (young ones in tow) and five swollen mothers-to-be gently starting to twist and stretch their bodies into new understandings of their growing role as parent and adult.

The infants seem to particularly love downward dog pose, and the room fills with laughter as the babies roll and gurgle with delight at the mother-shaped mobiles that hover above them.

It is the fifth class in a six-week session here at St. Mary’s Home, an advocacy program for high-risk pregnant and parenting young women in the Ottawa area.

It has been an incredible experience for me to come here each week, and watch my own concepts and ideals of motherhood, yoga, and youth change and grow along with the rapidly developing babies.

My thoughts are echoed by one of the participants in the class when she tells me that practicing yoga is helping her to develop space in her life,and gently asking her to remember the most important thing, gratitude.

As I leave the class, I am filled with respect for the immensity of the Teachings, and the power of the lineage. I have seen week after week “high-risk” young people coming into contact with yoga for the first time and accepting it as though they had been around it for their whole lives.

There truly is something cellular about yoga, and I am constantly amazed at the propensity of the Light to speak to those who need it.

Om Tara!!
Sarada Eastham