PRISON PHOENIX TRUST P.O. BOX 328, OXFORD, OX2 7HF www.theppt.org.uk 25 years Newsletter, Autumn 2013 Stepping Back
hen you’re up against hard situations or when really paying attention. He knows that the condition of his mind everything is kicking off at once, your first sets the scene for the whole of his life. And he knows the state of Winstinct may be to try to figure your way out of it his mind affects the lives of others as well. Because he was in the or through it. Our brains are great at this. It’s one of the things habit of sitting in meditation, he could sit still, focussing on his they do, and it’s a way that most of us are used to. Completely breath and see his old mental habits. Through this practice, he normal. had developed the capacity for patience, and for not responding But what if, when you are in the middle of some awful period in to his old impulses. He realised that it is possible to not engage your life, or you find yourself with his own mind in any in a scene where some action of the familiar ways – on seems to be demanded of you this really fine level of the – what if, instead of acting mind, moment to moment. through your thinking or That is not only possible trying to figure things out, for all of us, but also it you actually step back from leads to a better feeling that familiar choice of acting about being alive and and doing, and instead simply about who we are. be with what is going on? It’s not just when we’re What if you could switch out in the middle of difficulties of the mode of trying to fix it Women at HMP Bronzefield find that we can step back all and just allow what was going on? openness and energy from the usual activity of the mind. When This may sound impossible, but things are going okay or even really well, many of you tell us about doing just this regularly, sometimes you can also do it. In fact, if you’re interested in meditation, because you have no choice: the depression has become so bad, that’s the whole idea: no matter how glorious or hellish or ho- or your medication has been cut, or you simply don’t see another hum things seem, bring yourself back again and again to the way. And somehow, in an unexpected way, things often clear simplicity of the breath, letting everything else go. Let go of themselves up. This is what a prisoner friend says on page two. the habit of following the emotions and thoughts. Discover that Not only did he manage to get through horrific heartbreak, he by letting go of that habit, how you act, think and feel actually found he was sitting on a powerhouse of creativity. becomes more harmonious and enjoyable. Similarly, a friend on page four talks about the temptation of getting back into crime once he was out. It was hard, but he took Love Sam – and Lucy, Sally, Jason, a step back, remembered the peace he had found at times while Clive, David, Kaye & Brent in prison, and – with a lot of work and help – was slowly able to cultivate that peace again and be more the person he wanted to be. Not easy. But completely worth it. His stepping back was a matter of lifestyle choices and actions. “Learn to take the backward But he’s also talking about the moment-to-moment activity in step that turns the light and the mind and heart that’s subtle: quite hard to spot unless you’re shines it inward. ” ~ Dogen Zenji, Japanese Zen master, 1200 - 1253 About the Prison Phoenix Trust The Prison Phoenix Trust supports prisoners in their spiritual Contents lives through meditation, yoga, silence and the breath. Page 2-3 Prisoners’ Letters It recommends breath-focussed stretches and meditation Page 2 Meditation Corner sensitively tailored to students’ needs. This safe practice Page 4 Never Giving Up offers students ultimate peace of mind. The PPT encourages Page 5 Seeing a Bigger Picture prisoners and prison staff through correspondence, books, CDs, Page 6 Yoga: Your Flexible Friend newsletters, free taster workshops and weekly classes. Page 7 Suddenly Feeling Free Page 8 Past Tense Meditation Corner From Cork Prison ast year you sent Prisoners’ Lme Becoming Free From HMP Send Coming Through Meditation and Yoga and We’re All Doing Time, plus his might sound silly your CD. They have been put to great Tbut I feel honoured to have my Unstuck? use. own copy of We’re All Doing Time as What a roller coaster I have been on I have suggested to friends and to some By Jason since I last wrote. Not long after my of my peers to read it as it helped me so last letter, I found out my wife had met much during my RAPT treatment and ow annoying to be labelled like someone else. I was heartbroken, have hope it will inspire others as it did me, and the contents of a tin! It happens never in my life felt any pain like it. continues to inspire me as I read it again. all the time: celebrity, teenager, The darkest parts of my mind revealed The article you sent me came at the H themselves. I started to fall apart. My life right time as I had begun to chase the VIP, prisoner, screw, politician, VP, yogi, gangster. The list goes on and it seems no was over. After all I had been through in ‘goal’ of the few times I have had or one is immune from being labelled. Over my life, how was this happening to me? experienced the great spiritual magic and the years I’ve been a pupil, apprentice, She had always stood by me, the only I began to feel frustrated and disappointed biker, engineer, zen meditator. All of these person who really knew me. How could I that I was not able to recreate these are the result of someone go on without her? I cried bitter tears but I experiences every time, agonising and sticking a label on the continued to meditate. I started to meditate obsessing: what am I doing wrong, what tin, sometimes without more, did the yoga every morning. Slowly am I forgetting to do? Chasing rapture understanding what’s but surely I started to feel better and I was ruining my meditation practice. So inside. started to accept that she was gone and thank you again. I’m back on track again Thankfully, when the instead of blocking out my feelings with enjoying the sitting and the breath, not mind is still and quiet, drink and drugs like I would have in the chasing rapture. these labels tend to float away, rather like past, I learned to sit with my feelings, soaking the label in water and watching accept them. I have gone from strength From HMP Wayland it unstick. By sitting upright, with the to strength. I am doing great now, thank body in alignment and perfectly still, God. I could not have done it without the t HMP Wormwood our attention can focus on each breath, meditation and yoga. AScrubs I tried silently inhaling and exhaling through Through the pain I started to write. I meditation a few times and did yoga the nose. Gradually we can see that every wrote poems to my wife saying sorry for and meditation with a yoga peer but here label we are given is based on an opinion. the way I had been before, explaining there is meditation in the chapel every This may be someone else’s opinion, or how I knew the pain I had put her through Wednesday. It is helpful and fun; I’ve met it may be ours. But we can be certain we and how I will always love her. friends there. The woman who does it is were not born with this label, whether it called Joyce, a nice woman who teaches be good or bad. And so the label starts to From HMP Perth us well. I’ve gone around 12 times. unpeel. The mind may start to think again I’m a new me and I’m healthier, – ‘I am a prisoner’. This is another opinion editation and stronger and mentally wiser now, with the and one we can choose to feed. But at this Myoga has been support of you guys and many others in very moment there is no prison, there is a godsend, a gift that this marvellous life journey which gets just the vast emptiness of the mind. All I have readily welcomed, as I was in better with time. our labels, opinions, hopes and fears solitary and still am, in a different prison. start to disappear as each moment passes. I didn’t really know much about it three From HMP Liverpool There is no label which will ever describe months ago until I was cut off Diazepam, ourselves accurately, and so we are free to which I have been a prisoner to for too y drug of choice is heroin, but to be whoever we wish each moment. long. Mbe honest I’ll try anything to get You may feel concerned that a blank Anyway, I now feel the best I have a buzz. I am basically a reoffender - nine unlabelled tin will never be chosen for done in years, my concentration is sentences - and a long term drug user. But anything useful. But this never happens superb, my fitness has reached levels I I’ve had enough. I am 43 years old. – labels start to appear again immediately. previously thought were unattainable. At the moment I am on remand for my So when you pick up a pen, you become a I feel meditation is a serendipitous gift fourth strike burglary on a dwelling, so writer. Can you play the guitar? You’re a and sometimes wonder if I deserve such I’m looking at a three year sentence. musician. Even when you are snoozing a a beautiful thing. I’m no angel as you I am on medication for mental health ‘do not disturb’ label appears. know. But meditation makes me feel issues, and have been given a single Keep sticking and peeling! But be calm. It often seems like when I look at pad as I am considered high risk. I have certain you wear the labels lightly; you are everyday objects, I’m seeing them for the reached the point in life I feel despair and always more than any opinion, definition first time. Insights into myself and others desperation. or label can describe. sometimes pop into my head without All this going on, plus family problems much thought. I really don’t understand and feelings of guilt towards my two girls. where it comes from. I’ve never been so I feel I have let them down big time and amazed and enthralled by something more I have hardly been there for them or their than practising meditation. mum. 2 water. It will always leak away, leaving From HMP Lindholme it empty and in need of filling again. No Letters matter how much or how quickly you our book, These feelings of guilt, stress and anger fill it, it always leaves you wanting and YFreeing the Spirit at myself are preying on my mind all the needing more. Through Yoga and time. But now I’m filling my basket with Meditation, has been I have told the doctor and my support stuff of substance: mindfulness, Dharma, a lifeline to me. I was worker here, who is trained in mental awareness and spirituality. This needs sentenced to two months and was on quite health as a nurse and she has organised maintaining, but doesn’t leak away. So a lot of methadone as I had used heroin some psychology programmes for me, long as I don’t do drugs or defile myself before that. I set about reducing my daily and she also suggested I take up yoga, with crime and dishonesty I’m sure my amount as soon as my sentence began, something she has done for years herself. basket will continue to be filled with but truly it was learning to meditate and I have always kept fit in jail, using goodness. practising yoga that helped me learn to the gym regularly, and I was also an I’ve gained so much from this sentence, relax and find inner peace. amateur wrestler in my youth – eventually mostly freedom from the crap I once After moving here to a semi open prison becoming England Champion in my age called life. I’ve got endless possibilities in May I have reduced my methadone group and weight category. That was years now, the world’s my oyster and my future to nothing, so I am now clean. This has ago, but I still train hard in the gym. is now bright. I’ve got a balance in my taken me four months. I will continue to I was reading Inside Time yesterday and life, whereas before practically everything meditate and carry on with my asanas saw your yoga instructions, so I thought I was negative. Now practically everything daily. Even though I’m not outside in the would try it out today, as I have been a bit is positive. I now know to choose the world yet, my mind and body are free. more stressed than usual – someone has middle path, neither positive or negative. blown the electricity so our TVs aren’t I’ve far from mastered this, but do see the From HMP Pentonville working. benefits in action. I went through all the sequences, Most of my 40 years have been spent hank you for the CD taking my time and using the breathing in darkness. Occasionally there were brief Tand books, including techniques, stretching properly and slowly. moments of clarity and light, but mainly Becoming Free Through Yoga and I really enjoyed it and to my surprise I feel darkness. Now I’m bathed in a good light, Meditation. I continue to find peace and a whole lot better. My restlessness has and need only to carry on what I’m doing more peace and harmony as I journey gone, and I have sat down to write this to keep it lit. through its new path. letter to say thanks. I can think of nothing that is a worthy It feels absolutely bliss and like magic I am going to go through the routine reward that comes from something simple how yoga relaxes the body, mind and again now. You have introduced me to and easy. The best things come from a hard soul. I could feel every bit of my muscles something new, and I feel excited about fought battle, which I’ve been fighting for relax whenever I clear my head and get doing the routine again! all of my three year sentence. The battle right into meditation. is far from over, in fact it has only just This is such a useful tool every prison From HMP Wayland begun. But I gather the fruits from my needs. It is disappointing that the books labours on a daily basis. Oh boy, do they you sent me were withheld by the prison eally good news taste divine. for two months before they were given to Rtoday: my funding for me. But that doesn’t matter any more as I rehab was granted! I’m so found the tool kit that unlocks every bit of glad I persevered and didn’t give up after negative emotion. the first refusal, as I would have done in my previous life. That life I lived seems such a long time ago and it’s taken a long time to get this far on my journey. I’m so grateful for all the support and guidance I’ve received with my spiritual growth. While I was inside the madness of crime and addiction looking out, everyone “normal” looked mental. But now I’m on the outside looking in, the madness sure looks unappealing, ugly and disgusting. Something I don’t ever want to be involved with or associate with any more. The paradox of becoming free by being locked up, amazes and astounds me every time I think about it! I can now see what I was trying to achieve while filling my body and mind Drawing by Rory Mackay, HMP Perth with drugs as synthetically trying to reproduce what I get now. Spirituality. But Feel like writing? We are happy to help with drugs it’s like filling a basket with in any way we can with your yoga and meditation.
3 Life on Release Oxford Uni Research Confirms: Never Giving Up Yoga Works! By Thomas ast year the Prison Phoenix Trust Lworked with Oxford University have been finding it difficult to fighting, macho. I became disillusioned. when they ran research in seven West write this letter because towards the I didn’t fit. These people seemed no Midlands prisons. The researchers were I end of my sentence I found peace and different from the ones inside prison. looking at what happens to people in happiness plus the focus and drive to live Over time I still searched for my goals prison who join a 10-week yoga class. my life correctly through Buddhism and but went along to an extent with these We’re happy to say that the results, yoga. But when released I decided I no other people. I ended up in some minor published this summer in the Journal longer needed to practice it but will just skirmishes and fought while out drinking. of Psychiatric Research, back up what live it. I was even tempted to go back to crime. prisoners tell us every week: yoga and During my time in prison I reached the I headed home to Newcastle. I was torn meditation help override impulsiveness, end of the line with my anger. No matter between my past life and present. All improve mood, decision making and which way I turned I was trapped. It came along with my Buddhism burning inside. concentration, and reduce stress. to the point that I would spend forever When I wanted to return to my peace and If you’re out of prison on 3rd October, inside if I didn’t change. Once I came to calm I tried to bring others with me but you’re welcome to join us in Oxford at this realisation I had to find a way out. It they made out I was stupid. So I gave up, the 2013 Prison Phoenix Trust lecture came from a man who I frequently trained but kept my own belief. where the researchers will discuss their with, who did yoga and meditation and findings. Erwin James, journalist and was a Buddhist. I was interested in yoga Peace and Happiness former prisoner, will open the evening for reducing the risk of injury, the rest and a representative from NOMS will was a natural progression. I met my partner after a year of being comment on the implications for prison I had to teach myself a whole new home. Sarah is a lovely person, life has regimes. Guests will need to contact us way of dealing with confrontation and thrown a lot at her but she never takes out in advance, and pay £5. problems with others her problems by hurting (which prison is full of). I others. We have a five did this through focussing year old step son (her my own behaviour, son) and have had another Great Moments in metta, and the removal of child now, Thomas, who Grendon… fetters. This was a very is Jack’s younger brother. difficult place to do this We have had some he PPT celebrated its 25th year in but I managed it. difficult times, though we Tstyle in July at HMP Grendon. My mind became clear. have never given up on Most memorable moments? Mark from I felt remorse but realised each other. I love my wife the prison, holding staff, prisoners and I must move forward. I to be with all my heart. guests rapt with his drumming, and put plans into motion and Only recently I have Derek, recounting his three years in the they worked as I had a Thomas, Sarah, Jack begun to practice Grendon yoga class. PPT Patron Jeremy clear focus and something and baby Thomas Buddhism, meditation and Irons chatting with prisoners over supper, positive in my life to live yoga again. I know what before performing dramatic readings. Jazz by and follow. it did and does for me. It helps me centre, giants Andy Sheppard and Kuljit Bhamra find calm within myself and develops my working magic with their sax and tabla My Path was Written emotions in the right way. playing. And BBC auctioneer Charlie I am doing well at work and have signed Ross raising a very healthy amount of Upon my release my path was up for a second year of Open University lolly during the auction, during which written: I would work, have a family, since my release, this time doing maths Jeremy Irons entered and lost a bidding and move towards buying a home. All and engineering. I have found the war for a caricature drawing of himself things attainable. I was lucky to find motivation to continue my path. I plan to on a flying motorbike! The evening was a work through a family member almost be an engineer for Nissan until I retire. fantastic celebration of the energy poured immediately. It was agreed that I could They gave me a chance. into the Trust over leave the hostel and move to a place down Someone once said I am tenacious. I the years, not least in Peterborough so that I could start. believe only that I channelled my energies by people in prison It was during this time that life began to and learnt enough through Buddhist who have delved get difficult again. I was still a Buddhist teachings and meditation to know what is into the silence but no longer practising through reading, required of me. This is what is right for of meditation and just trying to live the Buddhist life. I me for my peace and happiness and for yoga to discover ceased to meditate. my loved ones. rich rewards. Hats The temptations became too much. My One more thing – the man who brought off to all involved peer group lived a different type of life me into this was a fellow prisoner called that evening. And from what I envisioned. Drugs, drinking, Leroy. I’d like to thank him. here’s to another Jeremy at Grendon 25! 4 Seeing a Bigger Picture From HMP The Mount
started practising took place. I continued learning, I spoke suffer with physical pain I yoga on the advice with others who follow this path, I shared my mind feels light. of a spinal injury my experiences with others, friends, I will never stop the specialist. He recommended yoga poses family. My partner and I have grown closer practice of yoga for as long as I breathe. to benefit my condition and help stop me together and our relationship blossomed I believe it’s the most important aspect deteriorating. I basically used the poses as even though I am incarcerated. of my life. It has transformed me and a form of stretching to improve the range I encountered difficulties along the never stops giving. Once I am released of movement in the lumbar spine. This way but by accepting the way things are I from prison, I will be contacting The was very helpful. It reduced the pain and maintained some sense of calm. Yoga also British Wheel of Yoga to enquire about got my joints more supple so I could start lead me back to Buddhism which I had had starting a diploma in yoga and possibly using the gym. contact with some years ago. I’ve done a train to become a teacher. These are high About a year ago I started looking at great deal of soul searching, patience and aspirations. Wherever this journey takes the full system of yoga, what it entailed looking directly at the feelings I’ve spent me I will be grateful. how it benefits the individual and in turn years running away from. People use the yoga practices for many benefits others. I began a daily practice of reasons. For some it is a relaxing escape, meditation and made a conscious decision Light Mind for some it’s a recovery from injury and to refrain from harming – the concept of for others it’s a life long dedication of self non-violence. That included not eating I’ve been totally animal-product free for development. The more yoga in prison meat or fish, not swatting flies and also around six months now. Not only does it the better. It helps to calm people, it helps watching my interaction with others, ensure the minimal amount of suffering, people look inside, to see a bigger picture. being careful not to cause harm in action my health has improved. The initial Prison is the hardest environment to let or words. problem with my spine which lead me to down the barriers, to soften the heart, to Through these small steps a complete yoga has got worse, but this is probably open up, but yoga helps with all of these change in my outlook, views and nature the best I’ve felt in my life. Even though I things.
… and Participants Christmas Party in Dublin! Cards
eanwhile, across the Irish sea, a band his beautiful full colour Mcalled the Participants held a benefit Tdrawing is this year’s PPT gig for the PPT at Dublin’s Cobblestone Christmas card competition Pub. The band, open to ex-offenders, winner. The inside message is grew out of the music class at Pathways, from the Greek poet Pindar: a programme for the reintegration of “Every gift which is given, ex-prisoners and offenders through even though it be small, is The winning Christmas card, drawn education and counselling in Dublin. in reality great, if it is given by a frined at Rowanbank Clinic At the gig, a former prisoner, now drug with affection.” You can see free partly through yoga and meditation, it in colour on our website. Christmas Card Order Form read some poetry too. If you’ve got You To order, send this form with Tube access, type in ‘Participants Gig for payment to: The PPT, PO Box • Please send me 1 pack of 10 cards at £5. Phoenix Trust’ to hear a sample of their 328, Oxford, OX2 7HF. If your • Please send me ___ additional packs of 10 great music. Cheers to Willi, Lu Lu, The prison is sending payment for cards at £4 per pack. Bone Man, The Ace, Clinchy, Digger and you, you still need to send us Brian the Lion - and everyone else who the form. • I enclose a cheque payable to The Prison made the evening so special! Phoenix Trust for £ ______. Name ______
Silent Celebration Prison number (if in custody)______
lease join us, wherever you find yourself, in spending 30 Address ______Pminutes in meditation together from 3.00 - 3.30pm on the 21st of September. This is to mark the 40th anniversary of Bo ______and Sita Lozoff founding the Human Kindness Foundation, whose work in America is closely linked to our own. As many Post code ______of you know, we send Bo’s book, We’re All Doing Time, I’ve ticked this box because I’ve to people in prison. We look forward to sitting with all requested my prison send you payment. of you on the 21st! 5 Yoga: Your Flexible Friend By Tony Parsons, journalist and author
oga’s image is overwhelmingly Because it is impossible to practise me how to release tension from my neck feminine. Yoga conjures up yoga without your mind becoming and my spine. visions of beautiful women calmer, without your body becoming These exercises all had funny names. Y more flexible, without all the minor (and bending their bodies into impossible Downward-facing dog. Cat stretch. Cobra. shapes to the gentle tinkle of temple major) aches and pains that you thought The bridge. And I stuck with them because bells. But this just in - men can you would have to live with forever just they helped. The terrible spasms stopped. do yoga too. And it will melting away. This all makes it sound like I could reverse a car again. I could put on change your life. some kind of miracle cure. And it is! So a pair of socks without assistance. And I But to start learning why doesn’t every man do it? Because realised that these simple little movements yoga, a man needs to something has to happen to a man that had released me from a world of pain break through the blush before he can start learning yoga. It is all had one thing in common. They all barrier. Moving your no coincidence that the came from yoga. body like that looks popular image of male Ryan Giggs turns 40 in 2013. “Yoga hard. The spiritual yoga practitioners has definitely helped me,” Giggs told dimension of yoga is of reformed wild La Gazzetta Dello Sport. “It helps me appears intimidating. And because yoga boys like Colin Farrell and Russell Brand train every day because it gives me the has the image of quiet rooms full of lithe carrying their yoga mats to class - men flexibility and the strength not only to women bending over backwards, most who survived the outer limits of excess. play the game, but to train as well.” Many men feel far too shy to take that first step. Because before a man takes up yoga, people take up yoga because they want to Yoga feels like it is not for them - not for something has to break. be free of pain and injury (with Giggs it was us; it’s too difficult, too girly, a fitness It might be on some muddy Sunday persistent problems with his hamstrings). regime too far. But the few brave men morning football pitch (happens a lot), or They continue doing it because yoga has who take up yoga find themselves falling on a ski slope, or sprinting in the park. But the power to stop the clocks. Pushing 40, in love, and wondering how they ever something snaps that you never dreamed Giggs is still running past defenders who lived without it. would snap. And you understand that you are young enough to be his son. Thanks are strong but you are not immortal, that to yoga. Giggs eloquently refutes any Real Men Do Yoga you are fit but you are not unbreakable. suggestion that yoga is for sissy boys. And that is when yoga comes looking for “The general concept of yoga is you. Even if you are a veteran of gyms and meditating; nice, easy stretches,” he says. I broke one Saturday morning as I was dojos, even if you have been playing “That couldn’t be further from the truth. running across the road. Not even running for Manchester United for more than 20 Yoga is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. - just a slow jog to get out of the oncoming years - Ryan Giggs is yoga’s greatest You are using muscles you’re not used to traffic, when suddenly my back went into male advocate in the UK - yoga is like stretching. Waking muscles up. And it’s these terrible muscle spasms, pulsing nothing you have ever done. As Giggs hard. You need to concentrate.” At the far tremors of blinding pain, waves of agony has pointed out, most fitness regimes - end of his thirties, Giggs still looks like a running from the base of my spine to the weights, running, cycling - concentrate young footballer. back of neck. My back had been so strong on strengthening one part of your body. and true for so long. I had never had a In yoga, you use everything. After Giggs It Keeps You Alive moment’s pain in my back. And suddenly had his first lesson, he went home and it felt like it would never stop hurting. The slept for three hours. It’s gentle but there The true glory of yoga is that it can be worst of it were these muscle spasms - the is nothing soft about it; non-competitive, whatever you want it to be. It can heal your sign, I later learned, that the body knows yet demanding. In America there is a 20- pain, it can help you sleep or it can get it is hurt and is trying to protect itself. year tradition you closer to God. You don’t get that with So I tried everything. Doctors. of yoga jocks Zumba. There are three ages of physical Physiotherapy. Deep- tissue massage. - professional exercise. First you do it for fun (kicking a Three different osteopaths. And as the athletes in the ball about with your mates). Then you do excruciating weeks dragged NFL, NBA it for fitness (wanting to make the most of by, I found the only thing and NHL who what God gave you). And finally you that really helped my back p r o l o n g e d do it to stay alive (wanting to were certain exercises their careers watch your kids grow up). I picked up along the with yoga. Yoga incorporates all three highway of pain. An What I am ages. It is fun even when osteopath showed me one trying to tell you are doing it, feeling where you turn your body into an inverted you is - yoga all those stiff and tired muscles waking V-shape, your tailbone in the air and your isn’t Zumba, up. It gets you fitter than you have ever hands and feet flat on the ground. A deep- and yoga isn’t been - making you even better at all the tissue therapist showed me another where Pilates. Real hard, heavy-impact things men enjoy like Ryan Giggs has you get down on all fours and stretch your men do yoga. running and hitting things very, very hard. created a fitness DVD body like a cat. Another osteopath showed based on yoga W h y ? And it keeps you alive. 6 Spotlight on the Spirit Suddenly Feeling Free Prisoners have been writing to the PPT about their powerful spiritual experiences for a long time. In fact, it was their accounts and letters which led Ann Wetherall to set up the Prison Phoenix Trust in 1988 to support prisoners in their meditation practice. To help mark our 25th anniversary year, we’re reprinting here one of those early letters, with kind permission from the Alister Hardy Religious Experience Research Centre, with whom Ann originally worked. Giggs on the pitch n 1971 I was 27 years old and of became aware of a rush of feeling rising Tramping across fields with my dog, no religious belief. A psychiatrist up from the centre of my body towards Stan, we happened upon a young woman Iconducted group sessions in the my head. It was ecstasy, sheer joy – a in a meadow doing the sun salutation penitentiary which I attended. About July wonderful feeling that all was well and just as the sun was coming up. The sun 1971 he introduced a group of us to Swami, that everything was going to be alright. I salutation is a choreographed series of a Hindu saint. The Swami said that the started laughing out loud about the idea yoga movements, the kind of thing that practice of meditation allowed the three that I was in jail. Suddenly I felt free. The is familiar to anyone who ever learned states of consciousness to work together, other inmates thought I was going crazy! karate kata, tai chi or how to dance. Some that if we practised the meditation for five For a few days after that experience I martial arts are full of this stuff. In yoga minutes each day, in nine days we would walked around the penitentiary in bliss. there is only the sun salutation. It’s just 12 see changes in ourselves and in 21 days I sensed another part of myself looking moves, but books have been written about others would see changes in us. All we had over my shoulder as I went about my it. Some experts will tell you that this is to do was sit upright in a chair or cross- daily activities in jail. Prior to this bliss all the yoga you will need. And watching legged with our head, neck and chest in a state, I had constantly thought of using that girl I had a dream that my fellow men straight line and close our eyes. We were drugs again. But the craving had left me will discover the life-healing benefits of to tell our body to relax and just observe almost completely. Every now and then yoga. our thoughts and emotions, making no the thought came back, yet with no force I dreamed that men would look at the judgements, just letting everything go by to it. I don’t act on the thought any more. likes of Colin Farrell and Russell Brand like watching a movie. I was released in February of 1972 using yoga’s shining path to lead them to I was skeptical and resistant to the and didn’t return to drugs or crime. My health and happiness and wonder what Swami. He answered me by saying that attitude to life has become positive, and it is all about. I dreamed that Giggs will “I love you, not the body, but that which my attitude towards religion has also do for yoga exactly what Wayne Rooney is beyond you.” He just pointed to a point changed. After the experience I began did for hair transplants - remove the fear beyond me. I couldn’t say anything back to read various spiritual material – the factor, take away the shame, and set all to him, I was flabbergasted, silenced by Bible, the Bhagavad-Gita and books on men free to follow his example. But his simple manner of relating to me. yoga and other related subjects. Prayer I know it is just a crazy dream. Having became meaningful to me for the first hair taken from one part of your head and Sheer Joy time in my life. I know that God exists surgically transplanted to a more barren though I can’t define just what God is, part of your scalp - where’s the shame I practised sitting twice a day in only that somehow a greater power is in that? But embracing a 5,000-year-old meditation for lack of anything else to do. present in my life. I have recently married physical discipline that can heal pretty I wasn’t convinced that it would change and work as a counsellor to others who much whatever ails you have, from a bad me, but thought I’d give it a try. Nothing have had drug problems. I attend different back to a torn hamstring to a jaded soul seemed to happen at first, but after two church services from time to time and still - are you kidding? Doing something that weeks I noticed that I had stopped biting continue with the meditation practice. stops the pain? Now that’s embarrassing. my finger nails. That encouraged me Presently I handle problems without – I felt less tense. About a month after getting into emotional difficulties and Originally published in the March 2013 beginning meditation I was sitting in continue to lead a relaxed life. I still have issue of British GQ. Tony Parsons © The my cell meditating when I realised I had ups and downs, but without the unsettling Condé Nast Publications Ltd. lost consciousness for a period of time. I emotional conflict I had in the past.
any of you said you would like to use your creativity, by letting us frame Myour artwork – in the form of decorated envelopes – to help raise awareness of the PPT among the general public. To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we’re making framed envelopes from prison available to friends and supporters for a suggested donation of £30. Each original envelope is mounted in a special frame that can be free standing or hung on a wall. On our website you can see the choices and find out how to order. We’re always on the lookout for more artwork, so do drop us a line, in your own decorated envelope! 7 Past Tense By Sally e hold a lot of tension in our Next, spread your legs wide and necks, shoulders and spines. 4 bend your front knee. Check that WThis can cause us to feel down your feet are far enough apart, so that and sluggish. Next time you feel this way, try your knee doesn’t overshoot your foot. these movements. They should ease out your shoulders, stretch Keep your head up and your shoulders your spine and make you feel more positive and energised. down. Hold the pose, feeling calm and strong as you breathe in and out 5 –10 times. Then switch the feet around and do the same on the other side.
Your arms hang at your sides 5 as you make big slow circles with your shoulders. Breathe in as the shoulders roll up, and out as they roll down. After 10 times, circle the Start on your hands and knees. Breathing out, slowly shoulders in the other direction, still 1 arch the back upwards and tuck your chin into your chest. working slowly with the breath. Breathing in slowly reverse the movement, lifting the head and tailbone, allowing the belly to drop down. Move slowly with the For this posture, keep your breath between these two positions, 10 times. 6 back as straight as you can with your head in line with your Next, push your body weight back over spine. Gradually come forward 2 your feet straightening your arms from the hips raising your arms and legs. Try and get your heels as towards the ceiling. Bring close to the floor as you can, with your head towards your legs your back as flat as possible, like a and really enjoy the stretch ski slope. Stay here for 10 as your arms come up and slow breaths. over.
Now bend your knees, walk your hands back To finish, take a deep breath 3 towards your feet and slowly uncurl, straightening and let it go, shaking out your legs until you are standing up. As you breathe your arms and shoulders. You are now in a good state to sit in slowly, raise your arms above your head, really upright on the edge of your bed, feet flat on the floor, and simply stretching for the sky. Breathe out slowly as you lower enjoy focussing on your natural breath for 5 – 10 minutes, or you arms. Do this three times with the breath and then longer, letting go of everything, free in the shoulders, free in three more times, coming up on your toes. your heart. “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves.” ~ Mahatma Ghandi, non-violent activist, 1869 - 1949
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