This newsletter was sent to our Saint Leonard’s community email subscribers on March 20, 2025. If you would like to receive future news from Saint Leonard’s, join us and subscribe to receive email updates.

Grace House is a fair chance for women to walk from the past, embrace the present and discover a future.

So it’s fitting that this community experience features another physical and mental journey – the practice of yoga. Even better, the women travel to a West Side studio that is run by a Saint Leonard’s Ministries program alumnus.

“This is a sisterhood,” says Ivory Snow, Saint Leonard’s Ministries Chief Administrative Officer and Interim Grace House Program Director.

“When we do outings, we’re going together as a community. Because in that space, we’re just all women doing yoga. It is so dope. We’re just women relaxing, women laughing. If somebody can’t hold a pose, even if you fall, it’s all good. It is such a form of meditation to let the things of the day just go.”

In January, the women began learning their pigeons, lotuses, warriors and trees at ACT Yoga, 5457 W. Madison St. Operated by Saint Leonard’s program alumnus Marshawn Feltus, the only yoga studio on the West Side now has a special time set aside for Grace House residents and staff.
“For me, yoga is a stress reliever,” Snow says. “It’s a way to just wind down after a long day. It’s time to focus on Ivory because I don’t make Ivory a priority enough.”

“Here, I am in a space with the Grace House residents and employees where sisterhood is magnified, and it’s just good energy. Marshawn brings good energy. So just to have him in that space facilitating, everybody is comfortable at their own level. Anytime I see the ladies smiling and just enjoying life and not thinking all the stressors of life, it’s a beautiful experience.”

Feltus, who learned and honed the practice of yoga while incarcerated, said it was an easy decision to set aside a class for Grace House residents and staff.

“It’s always a priority for me to look at what I can do for those who are coming from such disarray that you’re trying to find balance and clarity,” Feltus says. “And for me knowing firsthand that yoga did that for me, it’s an offering to others that clearly you can see a different path.”

Feltus also appreciates the shared connectivity that yoga participants develop in a group setting while also experiencing “the correct way to be selfish when you’re building yourself.”

“You want to get the best for you so you can be the best in whatever you go forward in,” Feltus says.

Here are some participant comments about the experience:

Yoga has affected my life in a positive way. It helped me cope with my trauma and understand my body more as it pertains to transferring energy throughout my body. The mental benefits I gained were clarity and peace of mind. The physical benefits I’ve gained were the loss of weight and increased mobility and flexibility. Grateful a good deal for yoga practices.
Mariah G., Lead Resident Coordinator

Yoga has been a game-changer for me. By the time I leave, I’m feeling like a whole new person. There’s something powerful about moving with intention, breathing deeply and feeling in sync with my body. There’s nothing like that post-yoga glow when your body is loose, your mind clear, and you’re actually breathing like you got some sense.
Taniqua W., Resident Coordinator

The mental and physical benefits to me are the mindfulness that comes along with the practice of just taking some quiet time. It also motivates you to physically challenge yourself on days I don’t want to do anything. Just what I learned in yoga has changed my will to just do something to care for my physical health.
Towanda P., Grace House resident

I never knew how relaxed I can feel and focus on myself while having fun. It’s great. I’m mentally and physically in tune with myself. I suffer from anxiety, and yoga helps me release it all – which is the best feeling ever. I love yoga. We have a great teacher and the atmosphere is awesome.
Jasmine S., Grace House resident

I like it because it helps my arms a lot with stretching, so now I try to do it every day to help me stretch. I have less pain, and I need some type of physical activity. Thanks for providing this class to us. We have a good time, and the instructor is nice.
Olga M., Grace House resident

The yoga class was refreshing. I enjoyed the instructor and the sisterhood; we shared positive energy. The overall experience was beautiful. I was a little sore the next day. But I would love to go back. I realized how much I needed better movement of my body. I’m stiff! But it showed me that exercise is needed in my life daily.
Dye B., Grace House resident

Moving forward, the yoga practice is part of the emphasis to ensure that Grace House residents and staff use their voice, speak their minds and communicate the importance of the sisterhood. It’s all part of supporting the culture at Grace House, which recently received new coats of paint and color on the walls of the communal spaces.

“Everyone plays a role to some extent to maintain this space where it feels Zen,” Snow says. “The activities that we do together, it helps to strengthen the bond in the sisterhood within Grace House. I want them to explore as much as possible. Let’s try something new!”