Why Should Delaware Care? Yoga is often associated with high-end studios and expensive wellness retreats. But Charlene Sams has quietly spent years bringing the practice to one of Delaware’s most vulnerable populations. Since 2013, her program, which serves kids in the criminal justice system, has demonstrated that yoga can be a powerful source of healing, emotional regulation, and stability for underserved communities.
As the heavy doors at the Ferris School for Boys lock behind her, Charlene Sams settles onto the carpeted floor of a small library tucked inside the juvenile detention center.
The dim fluorescent lights hum overhead. One by one, teenage boys join Sams. They lower themselves onto yoga mats and match her slow breaths, as the space — usually filled with the tension from locked doors, strict schedules, and constant supervision — falls unexpectedly calm…