Women at Homeless Shelter Learn the Value of Yoga

Yoga practitioners laud the ancient discipline's ability to relieve stress, alleviate daily pains and generally improve one’s quality of life.

Now, an innovative program at extendYoga is making yoga's benefits available to a group of women in need of some daily respite: the ladies of the Wilkins Avenue Women's Assessment Center, a homeless shelter serving 65 homeless women year-round.

When extendYoga opened its doors on Nov. 5, founders and owners Arlet Koseian and Antonia Trigler knew that contributing to the community would be the cornerstone of their business.

"We always knew that we wanted to volunteer, do community service and just be involved with the neighborhood," Koseian said. "We didn't know how we were going to do that. We just knew it was one of our goals and a very important part of our business."

An opportunity arose when Koseian and Trigler discovered the shelter in their business's neighborhood. The Wilkins Avenue center, which has been in operation for nearly 40 years, is Montgomery County's only year-round shelter, said Diana Bernhardt, the clinical shelter director.

Koseian and Trigler held a class to benefit the shelter. That turned into a complimentary class for shelter residents. The class quickly became a hit.

Although attendance varies per week, the overall turnout is steady.

"I got interested in yoga because it keeps me very fit, and I just feel healthier when I take yoga. I don’t get tired like I used to," one student said.

"The feedback has been fantastic," said Nina Golding, the development director at , the nonprofit organization behind the center. "It has helped with [shelter residents'] self-esteem, and given them a sense of their bodies, as well as a sense of dignity."

The classes offer clear benefits for women facing anxiety about their living situations, Bernhardt said.

"Many of the women are in a very stressful situation," she said. "To learn the skills from yoga has been very positive for people at the shelter."

For Trigler, the rewards have come from teaching the class and watching the women improve.

"At the beginning, many couldn't even bend over and touch their toes, and now they can. They see that too, so it's nice to see that they know they're making progress. It's even better than me seeing it, just knowing they're happy," Trigler said.

"She keeps us motivated," one student said of Trigler. 

"She gives us new techniques every time, and I can't even remember all the names," another added.

Koseian and Trigler intend to continue the classes as long as there is interest.

"Unless something comes up, I think we’ll do this indefinitely," Koseian said. "We might even add a second class."