NYC
Be the person who breaks the cycle.
If you were judged, choose understanding.
If you were rejected, choose acceptance.
If you were shamed, choose compassion.
Be the person you needed when you were hurting, not the person who hurt you.
Vow to be better than what hurt you—
to heal instead of becoming bitter so you can act from your heart and not your pain.
-Lori Deschene
Our Vision
To be a beacon of hope for at-risk and incarcerated youth and young adults to transform their lives and reenter society with dignity and positively impact their communities.
About Us
Woosaa Wellness is a New York City based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides support to at-risk and incarcerated youth and young adults through yoga, meditation, qi-gong, and mindful basketball programs that are driven by consciousness, collaboration and personal growth.
Programs
Woosaa Wellness provides incarcerated youth with skills and practices to improve physical and mental health, manage stress, reduce anxiety, and cultivate a relationship with their own consciousness.
Basketball
Woosaa Basketball programming is designed to add structure and technique to help juveniles better manage their energy, process emotions and build self-esteem
Yoga
The Woosaa Yoga system harnesses the power of rhythm and calisthenic based movements coordinated with the breath, as well as practices from Hatha Yoga to help young adults engage their limiting belief systems and reach their potential.
Breathwork
A range of breathing techniques are offered as tools to which participants are encouraged to draw on for personal daily practice, as well as during stressful, times.
“For the 1 year I did yoga classes with the Woosaa program, I learned things about myself that I didn’t know. Plus I’m more flexible and more relaxed. I even have more energy to do things. I am a yogi now and I have been a yogi for 1 year and this comment is for all the yogis around the world. Don’t give up. Keep pushing through your workouts and keep your mind focus.”
- Inmate from Riker’s Island, Mental Observation Unit
“Being an inmate is not a relaxing experience. You have to deal with pressure, restrictions, violence, among other stressful circumstances. Since I started working with Woosaa Yoga, I have had an outlet to deal with some of this stress.”
- Inmate from Riker’s Island, Gang Affiliated Unit
The Team
Jaleel Gary
Basketball, Positive Psychology, Mentorship.
Kathleen Booker
Breathwork, Guided Meditations, Staff & Officer Trainings.
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Liam Pfeiffer
Yoga, Breathwork, Qi Gong, Leadership Development.
Our Impact
Supporting incarcerated youth and young adults to live a productive life through yoga, mindfulness, basketball, personal growth and professional development.
1,040
Hours of mindful basktball programming conducted in secure juvenile detention centers across NYC.
520
Hours of yoga and meditation programming for young adults on Riker's Island Detention Facility.
6 Week
Annual summer camp disrupting cycles of violence for at-risk-youth in the South Bronx.
Community Partners & Corporate Sponsors
