Prison PT

diamonds in the rough

Finding gems: diamonds in the rough

There are moments in the darkness of the early morning that allow me to really be present. Instances that feel rare, like a diamond. They send me instantly to “be here now” when a moment before I might have ben fretting about the day ahead.

Here are some moments in the past 3 weeks that have caught my momentary awareness, allowing for an exhale. Pausing for a moment of reverence.

  • Early sunrise off the bay. Sometimes it’s like the image above. Sometimes the sky is completely dark, as the fog has settled in. And one day, the fog lay low below the horizon, while the sun spoke out up above.
  • Sometimes on the drive, I will find myself in a space where there are no cars in front of me and none behind for at least a 1/2 mile in each direction. It feels like floating in the calm of the ocean when the wave has just passed. I’m in a small sea of blackness. I can feel the body soften as I don’t have to be so vigilant about those passing by.
  • The view from the office is every changing. It’s the same static fixtures: mountain, bay, yard. But the environment and weather makes for a shifting landscape that causes me to pause and reflect. The low hanging fog on the mountain before the sun rises. The unusually dark blue of the bay when the wind is heading in the opposite direction. The stillness inside in contrast to the palm tree violently wavering as it takes on blows from the south. And sometimes a bright sun shining on the backdrop, indicating the yard will be full with activity today.
  • The protestant chapel here provides a sense of normalcy. Something I never thought I’d say about a chapel as I’ve never been one for organized religion. But in here, it provides a sense of comfort and ease. Especially at this time of year when it’s decorated for Christmas. Truly a sight to allow for an exhale amongst chaos that exists elsewhere on the inside.
  • The stillness of the parking lot allowing for a 10 minute meditation before entering in. The cleansing breath practices, mantra and breath that begin to calm my heart beat and slow the mind. And of course gratitude. A much needed practice before entering the iron gates.

I find my yoga practice coming in daily just feeling the gentle slide into the present moment, as though a veil was being slowly lifted. These diamonds in the rough are not lost on me. Small things to be grateful for.

*just to note, I’ll be leaving out the name of the institution that I work at. It’s a state prison for reference. Images are not from the prison as no devices are allowed in.

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caring for the incarcerated

Prison PT

I’ve been a physical therapist (PT) for 19 years. Worked in all different settings: Acute care, inpatient rehab, home health, hospice care, outpatient clinic, telehealth, and I’ve run my own concierge practice. As a yoga therapist and PT I’ve been able to help those see a new perspective around their pain. Not to expect a pain-free life, but to relish a life that exists in the presence of pain—because we will all experience it at some point.  But now, I’ve chosen a new path. I wanted to serve the underserved, and I wanted something unique. Working at a prison was not something I thought possible. But it is. There are a small world of PT’s doing just that. But if you search out there to find information on the experience, you won’t find much. I found several sites about nursing for the incarcerated, but the PT landscape was bleak.  So, it’s with this intention that I began to share the stories here. A source to inform those who are curious and have questions and provide them a place to land. Please share if you know someone who might be interested.
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