testimonials from our service users
"Dear Light a Path Friends,
Greetings! We are astonishingly in excellent spirits. This pandemic has us here, behind the wire, actually enjoying some vast improvements in our quality of life. The yards are open nearly all day. We have all the mats and bands in the houses. We may now take our food “to go” and eat at our leisure or outside as often as we wish.
We are teaching classes daily to anyone who wants to come- teaching five classes a week, 90 minutes each, going on four weeks now. Two Strength, two Barre, and one Yoga. Each class has a Yoga Polisher. Even so, we miss you all terribly.
It is with deepest joy and profound gratitude that we thank you for having trained and equipped us so very well to carry on and sustain our own Light a Path Community. Not a class goes by where each of you isn’t quoted, sourced, mentioned, thought of, and above all, cherished. You are, in fact, very much with us each and every day, and we are indeed with you at this time.
Sending our love and hope that this letter finds you well.
Until we meet again, stay safe.
You are loved.
Namaste."
- J, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
Greetings! We are astonishingly in excellent spirits. This pandemic has us here, behind the wire, actually enjoying some vast improvements in our quality of life. The yards are open nearly all day. We have all the mats and bands in the houses. We may now take our food “to go” and eat at our leisure or outside as often as we wish.
We are teaching classes daily to anyone who wants to come- teaching five classes a week, 90 minutes each, going on four weeks now. Two Strength, two Barre, and one Yoga. Each class has a Yoga Polisher. Even so, we miss you all terribly.
It is with deepest joy and profound gratitude that we thank you for having trained and equipped us so very well to carry on and sustain our own Light a Path Community. Not a class goes by where each of you isn’t quoted, sourced, mentioned, thought of, and above all, cherished. You are, in fact, very much with us each and every day, and we are indeed with you at this time.
Sending our love and hope that this letter finds you well.
Until we meet again, stay safe.
You are loved.
Namaste."
- J, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
"You are true rockstars, all of you are! Without these programs during my incarceration I wouldn’t be the person I am today! It’s amazing what you all do to take the time out to spend with those who need it most. During that short period of time of the class, we can be ourselves and enjoy life and have a sense of freedom. I can’t express my feelings, and how appreciative I am for all of you!"
- C, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
- C, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
"I want to thank Light A Path for the help I received after leaving SCCW. I want to thank all the beautiful volunteers that I met while I was incarcerated. You made my time that much easier to bear, and I will never forget that. A special thank you to Sierra. You fill the world with grace."
- T, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
- T, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
"While serving her time in Swannanoa Women’s Correctional Facility, Jenny rediscovered yoga when an Asheville-based nonprofit — Light a Path — offered classes once a week at the women’s correctional facility. Jenny said she attended every class led by Light a Path founder Sierra Hollister. She credits the physical and mental benefits of yoga for getting her through her sentence. She decided to seek out Hollister when she was released and began taking classes at the Asheville Yoga Center. Hollister even offered Jenny a free three-month membership so she could attend classes every day and continue her recovery process.
Jenny took it a step further by completing a teacher-training program at Asheville Yoga Center and now volunteers through Light a Path to help others and also teaches her own classes in Waynesville.
“A lot of people think yoga is just a lot of stretching, but it can be a very physically and mentally demanding exercise,” she said. “It’s more than just postures — it’s really just a way to live your life.”"
- Jenny Green, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
Losing everything to find yourself: Waynesville native shares her story of addiction
Jenny took it a step further by completing a teacher-training program at Asheville Yoga Center and now volunteers through Light a Path to help others and also teaches her own classes in Waynesville.
“A lot of people think yoga is just a lot of stretching, but it can be a very physically and mentally demanding exercise,” she said. “It’s more than just postures — it’s really just a way to live your life.”"
- Jenny Green, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
Losing everything to find yourself: Waynesville native shares her story of addiction
"Before coming to prison I was a very broken individual. I suffered from childhood violence, domestic violence, low self-esteem, addiction, and mental illness. I was completely morally bankrupt, and I have no doubt that if it was not for prison I would be dead. I couldn't look in the mirror, I couldn't sleep, I was so angry all the time. I hated the person I was, the things I had done, the people I hurt. Digging deep and facing my past was extremely taxing, and working out became my saving grace.
Copland, Anne, Sierra...all the work out ladies...I've gained so much from all of you. I remember when I started, we were in a tiny room, and it's amazing now to look at what Light a Path has become. It has happened through your constant diligence and persistence, constantly advocating for us, always pushing for new equipment, working around policies and procedures, and all you volunteers enduring everything with such grace. We are more than grateful, and for me it was life changing. The tools I've gained from all of you, I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I use all of your mantras and breathing practices, and I just want to thank you so much for being so understanding, even when I cried during yoga.
It's taught me so much and how strong I truly am inside and out. I have no doubt that I will have a successful and productive transition into the community. Thanks to Light a Path's free passes I can continue my workouts even after my release. Because of all these things, I will leave prison a very different person from who I was when I came in. I am strong, secure, confident and more importantly, I'm at peace. Yes I did and have worked hard, but none of it would have been possible if not for all of you. I am one of the many voices of the lives you have touched and continue to touch, of that I have no doubt.
For the time you dedicate, and the wisdom and hope you give, I am I so truly grateful. You are all a prime example of what I hope to become. I never though my future hope would be to come back to prison, but it is my goal to obtain my blue card and give back some of the hope I have been given. I am living proof that sometimes all it takes is just one person to believe in you, one person to make a difference. Because of all of you, my past was just the beginning of my beginning. Thank you.
- A, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
Copland, Anne, Sierra...all the work out ladies...I've gained so much from all of you. I remember when I started, we were in a tiny room, and it's amazing now to look at what Light a Path has become. It has happened through your constant diligence and persistence, constantly advocating for us, always pushing for new equipment, working around policies and procedures, and all you volunteers enduring everything with such grace. We are more than grateful, and for me it was life changing. The tools I've gained from all of you, I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I use all of your mantras and breathing practices, and I just want to thank you so much for being so understanding, even when I cried during yoga.
It's taught me so much and how strong I truly am inside and out. I have no doubt that I will have a successful and productive transition into the community. Thanks to Light a Path's free passes I can continue my workouts even after my release. Because of all these things, I will leave prison a very different person from who I was when I came in. I am strong, secure, confident and more importantly, I'm at peace. Yes I did and have worked hard, but none of it would have been possible if not for all of you. I am one of the many voices of the lives you have touched and continue to touch, of that I have no doubt.
For the time you dedicate, and the wisdom and hope you give, I am I so truly grateful. You are all a prime example of what I hope to become. I never though my future hope would be to come back to prison, but it is my goal to obtain my blue card and give back some of the hope I have been given. I am living proof that sometimes all it takes is just one person to believe in you, one person to make a difference. Because of all of you, my past was just the beginning of my beginning. Thank you.
- A, participant in LAP's program for Incarcerated women.
"Yoga was fun. The teacher was down to earth, and understood how stressed we were."
"Yoga made me a happier person - we should have it every day!"
"Yoga helps me get in the mood to reach my relaxed state of being."
- Participants in LAP's program for Youth.
"Yoga made me a happier person - we should have it every day!"
"Yoga helps me get in the mood to reach my relaxed state of being."
- Participants in LAP's program for Youth.
“I never realized before how powerful the mind is.”
“I decided to stop using heroin after that experience.”
“I could feel my heartbeat, and the blood going through my veins.”
“It felt like time stopped, and I could choose which thoughts to let go of.”
“I remembered the time I drowned and was brought back to life, and I let it all go.”
“I felt like I went through an African ceremony, and experienced death and rebirth.”
- Participants in LAP's program for Incarcerated men, after a meditation and sound healing session.
“I decided to stop using heroin after that experience.”
“I could feel my heartbeat, and the blood going through my veins.”
“It felt like time stopped, and I could choose which thoughts to let go of.”
“I remembered the time I drowned and was brought back to life, and I let it all go.”
“I felt like I went through an African ceremony, and experienced death and rebirth.”
- Participants in LAP's program for Incarcerated men, after a meditation and sound healing session.