The Therapeutic Community’s clinical staff attribute to the EMBER program:
• Women showed greater receptivity to treatment, which better prepares them for recovery
• Improved ability to self-regulate
• Improved coping skills, and increased ability to draw on them when needed
• Decreased tendency toward disruptive behavior
• Improved self-esteem, which increased the effectiveness of individual therapy
• Increased connectedness with community
• Improved capacity to respond rather than react to peers
• Women became positive role models for the community which improved the effectiveness of group therapy sessions
• Increased calm, patience, and capacity for relaxation
• Increased compassion and open-mindedness
• More focused and attentive
• More in touch with themselves on a physical basis
• They found EMBER to be useful for women who have experienced trauma, those dealing with anger and anxiety issues, and especially those who lack coping skills.
Feedback from EMBER participants at the Ohio Reformatory for Women:
“Excellent. Great energy. Helps me deal with a lot of anxiety and gave me coping skills. Major strengths of the course: connectedness, integrity.”
“Every prison should have this class”.
‘The instructors were amazing caring women and brought good energy into this dark place”.
“Honestly, everything was beyond excellent: the yoga poses, the instructors’ ability to see what the group needs during the sessions, and the handouts”.
“Excellent. I got a lot of use out of every class. I have made use of all the relaxation that I have gained. I give great thanks to both the ladies – they are great instructors”.
“Really taught me how to get in touch with myself and calm down quicker”.
“The strongest feature of the course was the choice to do what we feel we needed. THANK YOU”.
“Excellent. The strongest feature of the course was being able to share openly and honestly and trust those around me”.
The students also noted:
Decreased symptoms of depression
Decreased symptoms of ADHD
Increased ability to relax
Increased ability to feel (not "numb out")
Increased skill set to deal with challenges
They acquired tools to create space around intense feelings
Increased ability to notice and regulate self-destructive thoughts
“After being clean for one year I find myself needing to fill my life with alternative activities than using and drugging. EMBER makes me feel alive not just present. Depression has been a symptom in my sobriety but I find joy in EMBER. I realize now that there are many alternative lifestyles to live and EMBER has introduced me to a new curiosity, a place I don’t need any money to travel to or to buy any product because this wellness lives within me.”
“I have never taken anything like EMBER before which is crazy because I think this should be taught to children so they can grow up using those tools.”
“I’ve noticed these changes since starting EMBER: Intentions. I start my day with intentions. Upon waking my body, the possibilities are endless. Appreciation, I love my feet, before I’d only cared about my toenails, LOL. I am resilient, I have fallen but my legs can pick me back up. COPING - I have additional tools to deal with stress and pressure besides drugging. This is just an introduction for me, I will continue on. Thank you for introducing me to a healthy lifestyle. I was in need.”
“Before I used to use drugs to stop my nerves from bothering me, now I use tools from yoga.”
