Yoga crops up in unexpected spot

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The ancient art of yoga can promote relaxation, reduce stress and improve overall health, which may account for the numerous yoga studios in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

But yoga classes recently began at another Albuquerque-area location that might surprise you: the Metropolitan Detention Center.

“(It) might sound weird, but you sleep better at night,” said Matthew Pettit, an MDC inmate taking yoga. “It lets loose a lot of toxins.”

Ramon Rustin, MDC’s director, said he started the program about three months ago after seeing positive results out of a similar program at the jail he previously ran in Pittsburgh. In addition to giving inmates something to do, Rustin said yoga reduces violence in the jail.

“If it works to control behavior, we'll try anything," Rustin said. "Yoga is really good at de-escalating their impulses.”

The jail offers four yoga classes per week as part of the programs inmates can take, at a cost of $8,160 a year.

Dr. Ron Gallegos, a psychologist who runs the program, said the cost is worth it because 95 percent of MDC inmates have experienced significant trauma.

"No. 1, it helps with different parts of brain start to connect so that the feelings connect with the problem solving; that's critical," Gallegos said. "No. 2, it gets people ready to use treatment when they get out of here."

About a dozen inmates take part in each of the weekly classes. Gallegos says he’s seen a 40 percent decrease in violence and other problems for the inmates who take yoga. Eleven men were taking the class earlier this week when KRQE News 13 visited the jail.

“I absolutely love it,” said Steven Ward, another inmate in the class.

Ward admitted that while other inmates who don’t take yoga sometimes give him a hard time, he has no plans to quit.

“It’s rough I guess,” Ward said. “You do get picked on a little bit especially when you achieve what we’re looking for in yoga. I guess it’s a little embarrassing at times, but it’s worth it.”

Pettit, 27, said yoga helps cope with addictions.

"I think it's something I would pursue on the outs, which gives me a chance to do something different with my time rather than go back to old friends, old habits," he said.

But what happens when the inmates are released? Does it help keep them on the straight and narrow?

"We haven't been able to follow anyone out yet,” Gallegos said. “So that information will be forthcoming.”

No other state prison or jail in a major metro area in the state offers yoga to inmates.