McLOUD, Okla. – A wellness movement is sweeping Mabel Bassett Correctional Center. Dozens of incarcerated women are eager to improve their lives through exercise and better lifestyle choices.
“There’s a movement and it’s called PHI,” said MBCC Physicians Assistant Corey Green.
MBCC inmates launched the Prison Health Initiative, which has been embraced by prison staff.
The women spend several days a week in the prison gymnasium and the classroom, reshaping body, mind and spirit.
“The classes they take are on nutrition and how to maintain their health better,” gym manager Jared McCord said. “It’s not just working out. They are getting the knowledge in the classroom, too.”
After eight grueling weeks, the ladies are graduating.
“We get to celebrate these ladies, and it is beyond exciting,” said Green.
Their success is undoubtedly worthy of celebration. Collectively, the women lost approximately 80 pounds. Inmate Jemima Sanchez dropped 20 pounds.
“It helped me out a lot,” Sanchez said. “When I started, I was 205 pounds. I’ve lost almost 20 pounds, and I can actually jog a whole mile now.”
Inmate Jamie Whiteeagle added, “PHI has given me great encouragement and inspiration to pick up the pieces where I fell off in here.”
This class has a motto: “No challenge, no change.” There is hope that the Prison Health Initiative will create positive change at facilities statewide.
“It’s a movement, and I hope it spreads throughout all ODOC if that’s possible,” said Green. “They are a PHI-amily, and I love that.”
The recent graduates can participate in an advanced PHI class and serve as mentors for the next group of new students.
