Folsom Prison Class Check-In

Complied by Julie Heryet, El Dorado, California

By David H.

In this class I feel an internal cleansing, like a shower. I feel grounded and refreshed. I do it every day in my cell. I grew up doing movements like these with my Grandma and Mom, but I didn’t know what it was. This class has given a face to it, to what I grew up with in a small village in Fiji. My village was loving and hospitable but other villages were violent and would attack us. I’ve come to Folsom from Level 4 [the highest level in prison system] and have over 100 stab wounds on my body. I’m sensitive to people’s energy – and this class is healing the wounds I have on the inside, that no MRI is going to show. Like having a broken heart, like when my wife passed away, no one can see it, but it can heal.

This class centers and balances me and contributes to my 24 years of sobriety from heroin. It heals the pain from my childhood, and the pain from my addiction. I haven’t felt this peaceful in a long time. I wake up and choose to be peaceful. The flow of these gentle movements are the opposite of prison, of how my Dad was always, “Get in there and fight.” But now I have softness and continuity. And this is not weak, it is strong. I can’t see myself not doing it every day. It’s my medicine. It’s how I get high now.

By Jonathon R.

You ladies [teachers] are like a little string that connects us to out there. I believe things happen for a reason. Sure no one wants to be in prison, but being in this class, I feel things happen on time. When I saw this practice on the prison TV, I knew it was a sign. I started coming, and I experience it as a chance to share a moment of life with others. When I’m doing the practice, I’m not like a sponge, but it creates a filter, a filter for the bad thoughts that are all around this place. Wisdom is a moment to cherish, a mountain to climb, and notice.

We keep the practice simple and easy, and everything gets better. I needed to get broken down so that I could get better. This practice is like healing a broken bone. Once healed, it’s stronger than it was before. We develop an inner muscle here that balances you – not too strong, not too weak. When I see these guys from class out on the yard, there is this connection we share. We just nod, and we know. Today we are connected, all over the world at the same time. My dad was a Kung Fu addict, the Asian way of living. I’m learning to listen beyond the prison chaos, to the Universal energy that connects and completes us. Prisons in Mexico are much worse; we could all have it much worse. We are the filter for this energy; we have healing power to share with others. We just need to stay connected. This is what I want to do on the streets: to share this.

By Steven F

I’ve been in this class for four years. I came in after the Law Library closed and started doing these movements. Now I have a center point in my life, and it’s T’ai Chi Chih. On the tier I will mirror Lawrence doing the movements from across the cellblock. Other guys will yell, “Hey, what are you doing? You look funny.” But I don’t care. The pain in my body is gone and I feel good. I used to be filled with anger and hate; I was very aggressive. But now I’m able to quiet down, pray, do my movements, and I don’t have those feelings any more.

I come every week; I never miss a class. It’s my life. When Julie started testing us for the certificates, and when I got all three, I felt like this paper said, “I am T’ai Chi Chih.” Not just here in class – on the inside. When I’m here I feel connected with the Universe. I feel this community with the guys here. We see each other on the yard, and even though we move in different circles, we know who we are. No words are needed. When I get out I want to be a teacher, to pass this along to others, to share this calm. Once you have it, it stays with you. Like your spirit senses you are a part of something.

By Brian R.

I’m kinda quiet. [The men smile, a few laugh quietly and nod encouragingly.] But I really enjoy this class and the people in it. Yes you may use my comment. I enjoy the class and the beautiful energy all around me while I’m there. It gives me peace of mind and brings calm and serenity to my life. It helps me deal with being in prison and being away from my family. It’s hard to describe in words but I do my best. I am fairly new to the class and still have a lot to learn, but I’m looking forward to it and to carry what I’ve learned to my family and community back home. Thank you for this wonderful teaching and practice.

the

prajna

brought me here

to t’ai chi chih

to all of

you to

life

– Julie Heryet

here

we met

inside of

folsom prison

t’ai chi chih

holds us

now

– Julie Heryet