Woosaa Mindful Basketball Camps, South Bronx, NYC

My name is Liam Pfeiffer and I am the founder of Woosaa Wellness, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization thMy name is Liam Pfeiffer and I am the founder of Woosaa Wellness, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports at-risk and incarcerated youth through yoga and mindful basketball programs presently offered in juvenile detention centers and jails in NYC ; Summer programming will expand to include evening workouts in the Bronx, NY for both neighborhood and jail re-entry participation.

Talent in the Bronx:

Adolescence is a time when natural assets and aptitudes begin to express themselves, may those be academic, visual or auditory art and design, athletic, social, etc. Within inner cities, youth who reveal interest to pursue their talents are most vulnerable to gang recruitment where their abilities will be either leveraged or stifled. Once gang affiliated, youth are encouraged to carry weapons and most drop out of school.

Under-served & Living in Fear:

Shootings in the Bronx, NY increased by 64.8% last summer 2021. Safe spaces for kids and teens to explore, express, learn and grow, are limited in inner city neighborhoods— especially during evenings hours when gang activity and violence is previlent. Woosaa Wellness programs are a beacon of hope for under-served youth and young adults which transform their lives and positively impact their communities.

Basketball Camps, South Bronx:

Through leadership training and basketball skill development, our sundown safe havens will provide youth with an outlet to:

- build self-esteem

- process emotions in a healthy and constructive way

- learn life skills through basketball.

You can make a difference!

Our free Basketball Camps cost less than $500 per day to support an average of 30-40 kids for each workout.

Expenses include coach's wages, insurance, equipment and daily water/provisions for participants.

Our Team:

Liam Pfeiffer: Founder of Woosaa and creator of 'Woo Way': a yoga system of rhythmic movements and breathwork, now popular on Riker’s Island, including in punitive segregation with gang leaders. Recognized by the Dept. of Corrections for outstanding services.

Jaleel Gary: Head basketball coach, formerly incarcerated in Crossroads and Horizons Juvenile Centers. Successfully led all-star basketball weeks in secure detention, culminating in a youth vs. staff tournament.

Our Experience:

Woosaa runs programs on every level within the New York City detention system; they have been tested and proven successful with thousands of city youth. Currently we offer programs in both non-secure group homes (no cells or cuffs) for minor offenders in the Bronx and Brooklyn, NY, as well as in secure juvenile jails like Riker's Island.

Now, we are expanding our program from the jails to the neighborhood basketball courts in the Bronx with the intention of disrupting violence and preventing (re)incarceration.

Recidivism:

New York has a recidivism rate of over 40%. We continue to witness impoverished inner city youth — often raised 'on the streets'— come of age within the jail system.

Our Method:

'Woo Way' is a dynamic fusion of breathing and body techniques woven into the game of basketball. We uniquely introduce meditative practices through dribbling drills, breath control techniques, the power of routine on free throws, as well as embodiment and skeletal alignment through shooting form.

Woo Way Teaches:

Patience through feeling difficult emotions and not reacting Leadership through giving and receiving feedback to build awareness and resilience Presence through exploring the mind-body connection and somatic embodiment Conscious communication early and often from feelings and commitments.