Yoga returning to Clarenville Correctional Centre

The St. John's Women's Centre is bringing yoga back to women doing time at the Newfoundland andLabrador Correctional Centre for Women in Clarenville.

Theprogram wasoffered at the province's only facility for female prisonerslast year, and the women asked if it could be offered again.

Co-ordinator Sheila Ryan saidthe women loved doing yoga even if the setting isn't ideal.

"It was fantastic! Was it the ideal yoga setup? Absolutely not. I mean, most times you go intoyoga programs there'sa nice quiet room and the lighting is low and all that. Butyou work with what you've got," Ryansaid.

Ryan saidyoga in prison can help the women rehabilitate, and prepare for putting their lives back together when they're released.

She said women in the penal system with addiction issuesor who have lost their children to the system arejudged "quiteharshly."

"It'svery,very hard to get out and pick up the pieces and startall overagain when you've probably lost all the supports around you," she said.

Yoga instructorLorrie McLachlan said women entering thecorrectional centre experiencea loss of control in their life that they're struggling with.

"I believe that by havingthem on the mat and giving them controlover their bodies and having them make choices is allowing them tocultivate their own sense of personal power." she said