Join us for an illuminating conversation with Hari-kirtana das, a seasoned yoga teacher, philosopher, and advocate for non-sectarian spirituality. Together, we’ll explore how ancient yoga philosophy provides a framework for addressing modern social and political challenges, including the separation of church and state, systemic injustice, and the role of discernment in creating equitable policies and communities.

This webinar will weave together a guided meditation, deep insights into the Bhagavad Gita, and understanding the causes and conditions we are experiencing as individuals and the collective. 

Key topics include:

• How yoga supports the cultivation of discernment and self-awareness.
• The intersection of spirituality and social justice 
• A non-sectarian approach to divinity and its relevance in secular societies.
• Practical applications of yogic philosophy in addressing systemic harm.

Bio: Hari-kirtana das is the author of two books on yoga philosophy and a frequent speaker on the relevance of yoga’s ancient wisdom to life in the modern world. He’s been practicing devotional and other yogic disciplines for over 40 years, lived in yoga ashrams and spiritual communities, and has an 800-hour yoga teacher certification from the Jivamukti Yoga School.

You can learn more about Hari-kirtana at: hari-kirtana.com/

You can download a free chapter from his book Journey Into the Bhagavad Gita here: hari-kirtana.com/free-gita-chapter/

Hear inspiring updates from many of our team members and Founding Director explore future initiatives, and celebrate milestones like our new website and Yoga Teacher Training. This is your invitation to witness the legacy of social justice in action.

Press play and be inspired!

Donate to our Mission: https://prisonyoga.kindful.com/

Facilitator Application: https://www.prisonyoga.org/becoming-a-facilitator/

PYP Merch! Facilitator Discount Code: PYPFACAPPRECIATION10

https://shop.prisonyoga.org/collections/clothing

Prison Yoga Project- Yoga Teacher Training: https://community.prisonyoga.org/courses/yoga-social-justice-and-leadership-a-200-hour-yoga-teacher-training/

All Countries Here! https://www.prisonyoga.org/locations/

During our time together, we explored the possibilities within the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) to create a justice system that centers healing and community. We had the privilege of hearing Honorable Judge Dan Healy's story of how he began and was led to study and practice law. We heard how justice can shift from a punitive approach to one focused on human connection and dignity and by rethinking decision points in the system—whether at initial hearings or through community partnerships—we uncovered ways to address the root causes of behavior, offering paths toward rehabilitation and accountability rather than punishment.

We discussed partnerships in supporting whole-person care, from mental health to housing services, and why trauma-informed practices are essential for building trust and community resilience. Judge Healy’s insights reveal how collaboration between courts, community services, and the individuals involved can lead to meaningful, long-term change.

Join us in our healing-centered movement!

Honorable Judge Dan Healy

Judge Dan Healy has served on the Solano County Superior Court bench since 2010, presiding over felony, Mental Health, and Veterans’ court calendars. His career is distinguished by his commitment to expanding treatment-based responses within the criminal justice system, including serving on several judicial education committees. Judge Healy is a board member of the California Association of Collaborative Courts and has organized presentations on integrating wellness practices like yoga and breathwork into court settings. He is currently completing a 200-hour trauma-informed yoga certification with the Prison Yoga Project. Prior to his judicial career, Judge Healy was a criminal law specialist and prominent attorney in the Bay Area for 24 years.

Links:

Prison Yoga Project Yoga Teacher Training:

https://community.prisonyoga.org/courses/yoga-social-justice-and-leadership-a-200-hour-yoga-teacher-training/

Whole Health, VA Website:

https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/

Rat Park:

https://www.ukat.co.uk/blog/medicine/what-can-the-rat-park-experiment-teach-us-about-addiction/

Intercept Model:

https://www.samhsa.gov/criminal-juvenile-justice/sim-overview

Nikki Myers- Yoga 12 step:

https://www.y12sr.com

Humane Prison Hospice Project:

https://humaneprisonhospiceproject.org/

Lisa and Laura share their groundbreaking work in California prisons, where they lead innovative peer caregiving programs that train incarcerated individuals to provide compassionate end-of-life care to their peers. With four thriving programs and a fifth launching soon, their work is transforming the prison environment, fostering healing and human connection in places too often defined by isolation.

Listeners will hear about:

• The accelerated aging and chronic health challenges faced by incarcerated individuals.
• A unique 80-hour peer caregiving training that addresses trauma, cultural competency, and nursing skills.
• The pressing need for compassionate release and elder parole, and efforts to create transitional housing for reentry.

Tune in to learn how Lisa and Laura are bringing dignity and humanity to some of the most vulnerable people in our prison system, and how their work is changing public perceptions of aging, dying, and caregiving in prisons.

About Our Guests:

• Lisa Deal is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 30 years of experience in nursing, public health, and end-of-life care. After starting her career as a community health nurse for AIDS patients, she went on to earn master’s degrees in public health and nursing and a doctorate in public health from Harvard University. Lisa has served in leadership roles at Mission Hospice & Home Care and is now the Executive Director of the Humane Prison Hospice Project, where she combines her expertise and compassion to provide dignified end-of-life care for incarcerated individuals.
• Laura Musselman transitioned from her role as a college philosophy instructor to pursue end-of-life care after losing both of her parents. She trained as an end-of-life doula with the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA) and began volunteering at Hinds Hospice in Fresno, California. Laura now serves with the Humane Prison Hospice Project, where she combines her background in ethics and her passion for accessible, compassionate end-of-life care to support incarcerated individuals. She also trains other volunteers, ensuring that those dying in prison receive the dignity and support they deserve.

Links:

https://humaneprisonhospiceproject.org/

https://humaneprisonhospiceproject.org/donate/

www.prisonyoga.org

Join us for an insightful conversation with Shawandra Ford, a seasoned yoga instructor whose journey has been shaped by personal healing, community engagement, and a deep desire to make yoga accessible to all who need it. Shawandra will share her inspiring story of discovering yoga after grief and loss and how this practice transformed her life. From schools to juvenile detention centers, she has worked to bring the healing power of yoga to historically marginalized communities, demonstrating the profound impact it can have on both youth and adults alike.

Through her unique teaching style that embraces her authenticity, Shawandra is breaking down barriers, creating spaces for intergenerational healing, and showing that yoga is for everyone. Whether you're curious about how to get involved or simply want to hear about the impact yoga can have on communities, this conversation will leave you inspired and empowered to look at yoga as a tool for personal and collective transformation.

Themes:

• Personal Healing Through Yoga: How yoga has been a transformative tool for navigating grief, stress, and personal challenges.
• Community Engagement and Social Impact: The role of yoga in historically marginalized communities, schools, and correctional facilities, and the importance of creating buy-in.
• Intergenerational Wellness: How yoga can bridge gaps in health and emotional well-being across generations.

Please connect with Shawandra Ford:

https://brwnsknyoga.com/

Don't want to meditate with us today? Fast forward to 6:35.

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Joyal Mulheron, founder of Evermore, to explore the profound impact of grief and bereavement on families and communities. Together, we discuss how society, institutions, and systems often fail to support those who are grieving, and what needs to change to ensure that bereaved individuals receive the care and recognition they deserve.

Joyal shares her personal journey and the driving force behind Evermore's mission to advocate for systemic changes that prioritize the emotional and psychological needs of grieving families. We delve into policy initiatives, the gaps in bereavement support, and how we can work together to create a more compassionate, inclusive system.

Whether you’ve experienced loss yourself or are looking to better understand how to support others through grief, this episode offers meaningful insights and a call to action for change.

Tune in to learn more about the importance of community, policy reform, and the power of human connection in the face of grief.

https://evermore.org/

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jacqueline Crockford, DHSc, a seasoned facilitator with the Prison Yoga Project (PYP), who has been working at Richard J. Donovan (RJD) Correctional Facility and the Las Colinas Detention Center for women for over seven years. Jacqueline shared her inspiring journey into yoga and what led her to become a part of the Prison Yoga Project. We delved into the valuable lessons she’s learned from working with incarcerated individuals, both men and women, and how her initial expectations evolved over time as she deepened her understanding of trauma-informed yoga. Jacqueline also discussed the significant impact this work has had on her approach to fitness and mental health.

Hosted by Bill Brown, PYP’s Director of Programming, Publishing, and Advocacy—and Jacqueline’s long-time co-facilitator at RJD—this episode provides a rich exploration of the intersection of yoga, trauma, and the unique challenges of teaching in correctional settings. If you're interested in the transformative power of yoga and its role in supporting mental health within the criminal justice system, this conversation is not to be missed.

About Jacqueline Crockford, DHSc

Jacque Crockford, DHSc, is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach. She has been a personal trainer and performance coach for 20 years. Jacque grew up in the fitness industry, participating in YMCA sports and teaching gymnastics and swimming from a young age. She was on Kansas State University’s women’s rowing team, and is a three-time Ironman triathlon finisher. Jacque’s professional trajectory has evolved to include content production, product management, with a specialty in adult online education. She has been featured in several publications as an fitness and wellness expert, including the LA Times, New York Post, Health, USA Triathlon, Shape, and Women’s Health. Her journey to yoga began with a desire to improve mobility and reduce stress for athletic performance and has evolved to understanding the broader benefits as it relates to trauma. She began facilitating yoga inside correctional facilities in 2017 with Prison Yoga Project. 

The Bail Project provides free bail assistance to individuals, helping them return to court and access supportive services while awaiting trial. From 2018 to 2023, they have assisted over 30,000 people, saved taxpayers $92 million, and maintained a 92% court appearance rate.

The cash bail system in America creates a profound disparity in the justice system, disproportionately affecting low-income individuals and communities of color. Under this system, individuals who cannot afford to pay bail are forced to remain in jail while awaiting trial, often leading to loss of employment, housing, and even custody of children. This system perpetuates a cycle of poverty and criminalization, as many feel pressured to plead guilty, regardless of their innocence, just to regain their freedom. The Bail Project aims to dismantle this inequitable practice by providing free bail assistance and advocating for systemic reforms to ensure a fairer, more just legal process for all.

Joining us are CEO David Gaspar and Director of Communications and Publication, Jeremy Cherson. As Chief Executive Officer, David Gaspar leads the strategic planning, organizational management, programmatic development, external affairs, and fundraising activities for The Bail Project. A formerly incarcerated individual directly affected by the cash bail system, David earned his GED and bachelor’s degree, studied law while in prison, won his appeal, and was released 11 years early. His journey fuels his passion for justice reform and commitment to social justice, dedicating his time to mentoring young people and facilitating re-entry for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Jeremy Cherson directs the organization’s communications, earned media, public relations, internal communications, and publications strategies. With over fifteen years of experience in criminal justice reform, community-based research, and government operations, Jeremy has been instrumental in developing The Bail Project’s policy team and overseeing numerous advocacy campaigns. His prior work with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice included leading major initiatives such as the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety and the DOJ-funded Smart Defense Initiative.

Don't want to meditate with us today? Start the episode at 7:40

Resources and Links

https://bailproject.org/

https://bailproject.org/news/

https://bailproject.org/category/press/

https://bailproject.org/learn/after-cash-bail/

Gillian Hick, RYT 200, has been facilitating trauma-informed yoga in Co. Wicklow in Ireland since 2019, having attended the PYP training in London in 2018. She has been working as a veterinary surgeon for the past 25 years and is currently training to become a prison Chaplain.

Facilitator Form: 

https://prisonyoga.org/becoming-a-facilitator/

Foundational Training: 

https://community.prisonyoga.org/courses/incarceration-trauma-and-yoga/

Gillian Hick Bio:

Gillian Hick, RYT 200, has been facilitating trauma-informed yoga in Ireland since 2019, having attended the PYP training in London in 2018. She has been working as a veterinary surgeon for the past 25 years and is currently training to become a prison Chaplain.

As we delved into the transformative power of empathy and emotional connection, we uncovered how it bridged gaps and fosters a healing and growth-inducing environment. We explored the significance of creating brave, empathetic spaces for emotional expression, a practice that facilitated healing on both individual and collective levels.

Sunil is a certified GRIP facilitator actively involved in teaching a restorative justice-based healing and accountability program within California's prison system. He is also engaged in developing remote learning courses for incarcerated individuals through the Buddhist Prison Ministry. Sunil's journey has led him to instruct Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to diverse groups, including incarcerated people at San Quentin prison.

In 2021, Sunil achieved certification as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher after completing a comprehensive 2-year program led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Additionally, he holds the honor of graduating from BayNVC's 1-year NVC Leadership Program in 2008.

Sunil is actively dedicated to his own psychospiritual development as a student of the Ridhwan school for over 10 years. He deeply appreciates the wisdom shared by remarkable teachers and teachings, which have enriched his life in countless ways. Sunil wholeheartedly embraces opportunities to support others on their personal journey toward fulfillment and well-being.

Beautiful article about different types of service:

https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/HelpingFixingServing-by-Rachel-Remen.pdf

Generous Listening:

https://youtu.be/UdhP6sR5uvk?si=LZwX63JJkgRW2MXs

GRIP

https://grip-traininginstitute.org

My website: 

https://myempathycoach.com

Sentenced to life without the possibility of parole at the young age of 19, Ken spent over 37 years behind bars before his release, thanks to the commutation of his sentence by former California Governor Brown. He was paroled on December 20, 2017 and remains free.

Ken is not only an inspiring figure but also an award-winning writer and a passionate prison reform activist. His essay ‘A Prisoner’s Purpose’ earned him one of the John Templeton Foundation’s prestigious 2004 Power of Purpose awards. His memoir, ‘Mother California: A Story of Redemption Behind Bars,’ received the coveted 2010 Eric Hoffer Award.

Through his writing, Ken has offered poignant insights into his experiences during three decades of prison Christmases and the lasting impact of intergenerational trauma within his family. Today, he continues his mission as an internationally accredited Life Coach and a dedicated Community Teaching Artist, providing support to reentry populations and adult learners.

Ken’s profound influence extends to his role as the Director of Advocacy, where he tirelessly works to transform the prison system through The Transformative In-Prison Workgroup (TPW) (www.thetpw.org). His relentless efforts have also played a pivotal role in raising over $7 million in funding for crucial community-based organizations since his parole in 2017.

Join us for an intimate conversation that promises to leave you profoundly moved and motivated to be a part of transformation.

This episode was hosted by Priscilla Castro, PYP's Program and Training Operation Manager. She is a facilitator in LA, offering a variety of programming in and out of prisons. She is a life long activist rooted in mutual aid.

Join trauma-sensitive yoga practitioner and advocate Lara Land in an insightful webinar.

Discover how trauma can arise from a single event, the absence of childhood needs, contributing factors, racial-based trauma, and the challenges of recovering from continuous daily traumas. Explore the impact of trauma on the brain and body, and how the stress response can keep individuals in a heightened state of alertness even after the traumatic event has passed. Lara will address hypervigilance and its influence in the yoga space, providing insights into basic triggers that can occur and methods for repairing and creating a safe environment.

Lara Land is a deeply compassionate coach, consultant and yoga teacher trainer specializing in trauma sensitivity. Her work is in helping to heal trauma both subtle and significant and train others to do the same using yoga, meditation, mindfulness and breathing practices. Lara has spent the last 25 years studying and sharing yoga asana, chanting, meditation, and philosophy directly from her teachers in India. Her commitment is to honor the traditions of yoga by responding to the needs of each individual, using a unique combination of practices and techniques that are appropriate for their personal growth.

She is the author of The Essential Guide to Trauma Sensitive Yoga and the host of the Beyond Trauma Podcast.

Find more of her work at: https://threeandahalfacres.org/

In this webinar, Campbell discusses his childhood, how he became incarcerated, and the importance of mentors and how they guide and shape our lives during every season of life. He shares stories of his own experiences with the power of mentors and how they supported his journey. We also hear success stories from the Deuce Community and the incredible impact they are having on the lives and well-being of system impacted people.

As is with live recorded events, there are a couple moments where the internet lagged or the audio cut out. Please forgive us!

Links

https://www.deucegym.com

https://deucecommunity.org

To request Deuce Programming or mentorship inside, please write to:

110 Lincoln Blvd

Venice, CA

90291

Prison Yoga Project

As always, you can apply this discount code to any of our trainings to receive 10% off: PYPPODCAST

Read more about our work at: www.prisonyoga.org

Embark on an extraordinary journey of resilience and personal transformation as we engage in a heartfelt conversation with Vanessa "Nechi" Gutierrez in this profound podcast episode. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Nechi faced unimaginable hardships during her formative years. Enduring a deeply abusive childhood and the devastating loss of her mother, she found herself trapped in a cycle of violence, yearning for a way to break free.

With immense courage and determination, Nechi made a life-changing decision to move to New York, armed with nothing but her unwavering spirit. Over the span of several decades, she dedicated herself to breaking the chains of violence that had haunted her family for generations. Inspired by her own personal journey and driven by a deep desire to create positive change, Nechi immersed herself in the world of trauma-informed yoga.

Today, Nechi's impact is felt across New York City as she compassionately facilitates trauma-informed yoga for system-impacted individuals and those with histories of trauma and violence. Through her work, she provides a safe and healing space for individuals to find solace, rediscover their inner strength, and transcend the pain of their past.

Join us as we listen to Nechi's remarkable story of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of yoga. Discover how one woman's journey from the depths of adversity has blossomed into a beacon of healing and inspiration for countless others.

Are you interested in facilitating yoga inside prisons, jails, and anywhere else people want trauma-informed yoga? Take our Foundational Training and fill out our Facilitator Application today.

Foundational Training: https://community.prisonyoga.org/courses/incarceration-trauma-and-yoga/

Discount: PYPPODCAST for 10% off when you purchase the training.

Becoming a Facilitator: https://prisonyoga.org/becoming-a-facilitator/

From the transformative influence of Jivana's grandmother to his experiences during the AIDS epidemic, their discussion touches on themes of grief, impermanence, and the eternal essence within. Discover the power of spiritual practice to alleviate suffering and embrace the authenticity of being. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the path of yoga, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the profound teachings that lie at the heart of yoga. Listen and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and connection.

Episode Links

Read more about the work and life of Jivana Heyman

https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/jivana-home-landing

Yoga Revolution Book

https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/yoga-revolution

The Upanishads

We reference the story of Katha Upanishad

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-upanishads-eknath-easwaran/6722629?ean=9781586380212

Accessible Yoga Book

https://bookshop.org/p/books/accessible-yoga-poses-and-practices-for-every-body-jivana-heyman/9765075?ean=9781611807127

Prison Yoga Project Website

www.prisonyoga.org

Prison Yoga Project Training Site

community.prisonyoga.org

For over 16 years, Josefin has been at the forefront of introducing yoga and dance into Swedish prisons, focusing on trauma-exposed populations. Now, she's taking her expertise to the next level by leading clinical research studies with incarcerated individuals in special psychiatric care facilities, and recently expanding her work to the United States.

Join us as we delve into the world of complementary therapeutic care for forensic psychiatry patients and therapists. We'll explore the real-life experiences of facilitation, sequencing, and space holding as Josefin shares her insights on working with individuals suffering from severe PTSD, dissociation, schizophrenia, and psychosis.

With her extensive training in trauma-informed yoga therapy and mental health, Josefin brings a wealth of knowledge to this conversation. She's been instrumental in developing evidence-based programs like the Swedish Krimyoga program, and she's currently creating trauma-informed yoga initiatives for Swedish forensic psychiatry units, the Juvenile justice system, and stress-reducing programs for children in schools.

This podcast episode promises to be educational, warm, and thought-provoking. Gain valuable insights into the powerful impact of yoga as a complementary therapeutic tool in correctional settings and beyond.

To learn more about the research mentioned in this episode, check out the links below. Research links:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00204/full

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00406/full

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00407/full

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Foundational Training: Yoga through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Our Foundational Training provides a comprehensive introduction to the intersection of incarceration, trauma, and yoga. Through this training, you'll explore trauma-informed and healing-centered approaches to facilitating yoga and mindfulness in carceral settings while gaining a greater understanding of the historical and systemic issues contributing to trauma and inequity.

Yoga, Social Justice, and Leadership: 200- Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Our trauma-informed 200-hour yoga teacher training provides a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of transformation and liberation while developing the skills and knowledge needed to create empowering and accessible yoga and mindfulness programs regardless of background or experience.

Your host Blaire Embrey (RYT 500) is the Communications Manager for Prison Yoga Project and the producer of Prison Yoga Project Podcast. She is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, Post-Lineage Yoga, and Peruvian Mountain Shamanism; she is pulled towards the profound mystery of existence, cultivating compassion for...]]>Welcome to the Prison Yoga Project Podcast! In this episode, we have a very special guest, Josefin Wikstrom, the Program Director and Training Coordinator for Prison Yoga Project, Europe.

For over 16 years, Josefin has been at the forefront of introducing yoga and dance into Swedish prisons, focusing on trauma-exposed populations. Now, she's taking her expertise to the next level by leading clinical research studies with incarcerated individuals in special psychiatric care facilities, and recently expanding her work to the United States.

Join us as we delve into the world of complementary therapeutic care for forensic psychiatry patients and therapists. We'll explore the real-life experiences of facilitation, sequencing, and space holding as Josefin shares her insights on working with individuals suffering from severe PTSD, dissociation, schizophrenia, and psychosis.

With her extensive training in trauma-informed yoga therapy and mental health, Josefin brings a wealth of knowledge to this conversation. She's been instrumental in developing evidence-based programs like the Swedish Krimyoga program, and she's currently creating trauma-informed yoga initiatives for Swedish forensic psychiatry units, the Juvenile justice system, and stress-reducing programs for children in schools.

This podcast episode promises to be educational, warm, and thought-provoking. Gain valuable insights into the powerful impact of yoga as a complementary therapeutic tool in correctional settings and beyond.

To learn more about the research mentioned in this episode, check out the links below. Research links:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00204/full

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00406/full

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00407/full

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Foundational Training: Yoga through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Our Foundational Training provides a comprehensive introduction to the intersection of incarceration, trauma, and yoga. Through this training, you'll explore trauma-informed and healing-centered approaches to facilitating yoga and mindfulness in carceral settings while gaining a greater understanding of the historical and systemic issues contributing to trauma and inequity.

Yoga, Social Justice, and Leadership: 200- Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Our trauma-informed 200-hour yoga teacher training provides a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of transformation and liberation while developing the skills and knowledge needed to create empowering and accessible yoga and mindfulness programs regardless of background or experience.

Your host Blaire Embrey (RYT 500) is the Communications Manager for Prison Yoga Project and the producer of Prison Yoga Project Podcast. She is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, Post-Lineage Yoga, and Peruvian Mountain Shamanism; she is pulled towards the profound mystery of existence, cultivating compassion for all beings, and joy.

Terry Cortés-Vega, a resident Dharma Teacher at Plum Blossom Sangha in Austin, Texas, has dedicated over two decades to teaching meditation, mindfulness, and yoga within jails and prisons. Her unwavering commitment has led her to organize a group of practitioners who meditate outside City Hall during every execution on Death Row in Texas since the 1990s.

Meanwhile, Mike Stanfield's life took a transformative turn when he crossed paths with Terry during his time incarcerated in Texas. As her student, he experienced the transformative power of meditation, mindfulness, and yoga firsthand. After his release, Mike settled in San Antonio and established his own branch of the Plum Blossom Sangha, creating a sanctuary where his community could learn about the Dharma and engage in mindfulness and meditation practices. For the past ten years, Mike has held space for anyone seeking solace and growth.

In this thought-provoking webinar, Terry and Mike will share their personal journeys of discovering mindfulness and their unwavering dedication to using the Dharma to serve others. Prepare to be inspired as they reveal the depth of their commitment to love, service, and the transformative power of the Dharma. Don't miss this awe-inspiring episode that will leave you with a newfound sense of purpose and understanding.

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Linda shares her personal experiences with all of these topics that naturally led to intergenerational healing.

From the connection with mindfulness and meditation, there comes the space for self-healing which in turns opens up space for compassionate curiosity. With that comes compassion for parents who were under-resourced and more softness for the generations that came before. Healing one's self heals one's ancestors. "The secret of life is that it's a lifelong thing."

Linda Thai, LMSW ERYT-200 is a trauma therapist and educator who specializes in brain and body-based modalities for addressing complex developmental trauma. Linda has worked with thousands of people from all over the world to promote mindfulness, recover from trauma, and tend to grief as a means of self care. Linda’s work centers on healing with a special focus on the experiences of adult children of refugees and immigrants. Her teaching is infused with empathy, storytelling, humor, research, practical tools, applied knowledge, and experiential wisdom.

She assists internationally renowned psychiatrist and trauma expert, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, with his private small group psychotherapy workshops aimed at healing attachment trauma. She has a Master of Social Work with an emphasis on the neurobiology of attachment and trauma.

Linda has studied Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment, Havening Touch, Flash Technique, and structural dissociation of the personality, and offers the Safe and Sound Protocol, yoga, and meditation within her practice. Linda works on the traditional lands of the Tanana Athabascan people (Fairbanks, Alaska) with those recovering from addiction, trauma, and mental illness. She is passionate about breaking the cycle of historical and intergenerational trauma at the individual and community levels.

Your host for this episode is Priscilla Castro

Priscilla Castro, RYT 200, comes from an office administration background and has a passion for social justice. She also has a love for yoga, which she started practicing in 2007 in personal spaces and various yoga studios in southern California, on the East Coast, and in Mexico. Priscilla came to the Prison Yoga Project in 2020 while researching how to get involved in social justice work that helps and supports marginalized people. During that time she had been doing mutual aid work that brought food, clothing, and supplies to unhoused people and the underserved communities in Los Angeles.

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

As a certified yoga teacher and passionate advocate for social justice and prison reform, Nicole understands the power of restorative and transformative justice as an alternative to punitive punishment.

Are you interested in working with youth? Do you already work with the next generation and you're looking for more skills? We have a training that starts April 19th! Learn healing-centered ways of working with youth. Read more and register here: https://community.prisonyoga.org/courses/change-from-within-a-healing-centered-approach-to-working-with-youth/

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Sara’s Book: A Case for Compassion: What Happens When We Prioritize People and the Planet

https://compassionit.com/product/a-case-for-compassion/

3 Main Pillars of Self-Compassion based on the research and work of Kristin Neff

https://self-compassion.org/the-three-elements-of-self-compassion-2/

Resmaa Menakem

https://www.resmaa.com/

Person First Language

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Originally Recorded on 9-16-2022

On this special episode, Prison Yoga Project's Executive Director Bill Brown hosts Chris Spallina, the Program Manager and Meditation instructor for The Phoenix in New Jersey. Chris is a person in sustained recovery since May 24, 2018. Chris found The Phoenix while in treatment and transitioned from a member/volunteer to a full-time team member.

The Phoenix, a unique recovery community that helps those affected by substance use disorder learn the skills and disciplines to stay sober via activities and athletic training, is nationwide!

Additional Information Below:

Shared from The Phoenix's White Paper: It is estimated that more than 95,000 people die from alcohol-related causes in the U.S. each year and over 67,000 die from drug overdose (Esser, et. al, 2020; Hedegaard, Miniño & Warner, 2020). Fueled by the opioid epidemic, drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the country (CDC, 2018). Professional treatment helps many individuals abstain from or manage their substance use, particularly those with greater substance use severity (​Kelly, Bergman, Hoeppner, Vilsaint & White, 2018).​ However, the demand for substance use treatment is drastically outpacing the availability, as only 12.2% of the estimated 21.6 million individuals in need of substance use treatment are able to successfully access care (SAMHSA, 2019). Still, recovery without treatment is a common occurrence. In fact, only about one in four of those who have achieved stable recovery used treatment to do so (Kelly, Bergman, Hoeppner, Vilsaint & White, 2018; Sobell, Cunningham & Sobell, 1996). While more than half (58%) of those who have struggled with the use of substances will eventually enter sustained recovery (Kessler, 1994), the means by which they achieve sustained recovery varies greatly.

Read More Here: https://thephoenix.org/

SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

He is the author of Where Compassion Begins: Foundational Practices to Enhance Mindfulness, Attention and Listening from the Heart and the editor of Leaving Prison Behind: A Council Before I Go, an illustrated novella created from the words and stories of system-impacted individuals, and those who support them.

We were so happy to host Jared Seide in his decades long work of bringing Council to communities across the world!

LINKS:

If you're interested in experiencing council for yourself, find out more and sign up for an online Social Connection Council (c4c.link/scc) with Jared hosting.

Both of Jared's books are available to order on Amazon, though Center for Council encourages folks to visit their website, where a modest donation gives one the option to choose either Where Compassion Begins or Leaving Prison Begins: A Council Before I Go, or both, as a gift for supporting the org's work.

A Great Wagon, by Rumi, which has inspired Center for Council’s work, particularly the new Beyond Us & Them initiative:

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,

the world is too full to talk about.

Ideas, language, even the phrase each other

doesn’t make any sense.



Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Dr. Sará Yafah King titles and range of study extend beautifully and with great depth. A neuroscientist, political and learning scientist, medical anthropologist, social entrepreneur, public speaker, a mother, and more. At the cross-section of her meditation study and social justice, she joins us to speak of her journey of redefining social justice. 

Dr. Sará King's spiritual journey began when she was six years old. She watched her brother be arrested, sentenced, and incarcerated. Overwhelmed with the abrupt transition from childhood to consciousness, she began trying to piece together the puzzle of our current human condition. Thoughts began to appear while she was looking for answers and a deeper understanding: " Who created this system? Why can't we get my brother out? " Beginning to unravel the causes and conditions of her brothers' incarceration, a seed was planted for her spiritual journey. As her brother was stuck in a cage, she also felt imprisoned in her own body.

"When talking about the science of Social Justice, in the word 'Social', we study the field of our shared interbeing. The word 'Justice' is problematic because, for me, justice is not punitive or is it ever punitive. How do we know if justice is present? It's never going to be punitive; it's never violent or full of vengeance. I think justice is a feeling, and we can redefine this feeling as loving awareness in action. With this new definition of justice as a feeling, then justice is based in the body. Justice is something we can become aware of through body-based practices. These practices can become part of feeling justice in the body, and we can begin the collective journey of what justice feels like."

About Our Guests:

Dr. Sará King is a neuroscientist, political and learning scientist, medical anthropologist, social entrepreneur, public speaker, and certified yoga and meditation instructor. She is an internationally recognized thought leader in the interdisciplinary field that examines the role of social justice, art, and mindfulness in neuroscience. Dr. King is currently an NIH post-doctoral fellow in Neurology at Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) in the Oregon Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Neurological Disorders.

Dr. King's research and teaching focus on the relationship between mindfulness, community alternative medicine, and social justice with an emphasis on examining the relationship between individual and collective awareness as it relates to well-being and the healing of intergenerational trauma. She is the creator of the "Science of Social Justice" framework for research and facilitation, and the "Systems-Based Awareness Map," a model of the relationship between individual and collective awareness and well-being. Dr. King has worked with organizations such as Nike, the Jordan Brand, the Ford Foundation, Google, The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, Oxford University, Columbia University, OHSU, UCLA, UCSF, and Harvard Medical School.

You can read more about her work here: https://mindheartconsulting.com/about/

Your host Blaire Embrey (RYT 500) is the Communications Manager for Prison Yoga Project and the producer of Prison Yoga Project Podcast. She is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, Post-Lineage Yoga, and Peruvian Mountain Shamanism; she is pulled towards the profound mystery of existence, cultivating compassion for all beings, and holding space. 

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey]]>This episode was recorded 7/8/2022

Dr. Sará Yafah King titles and range of study extend beautifully and with great depth. A neuroscientist, political and learning scientist, medical anthropologist, social entrepreneur, public speaker, a mother, and more. At the cross-section of her meditation study and social justice, she joins us to speak of her journey of redefining social justice. 

Dr. Sará King's spiritual journey began when she was six years old. She watched her brother be arrested, sentenced, and incarcerated. Overwhelmed with the abrupt transition from childhood to consciousness, she began trying to piece together the puzzle of our current human condition. Thoughts began to appear while she was looking for answers and a deeper understanding: " Who created this system? Why can't we get my brother out? " Beginning to unravel the causes and conditions of her brothers' incarceration, a seed was planted for her spiritual journey. As her brother was stuck in a cage, she also felt imprisoned in her own body.

"When talking about the science of Social Justice, in the word 'Social', we study the field of our shared interbeing. The word 'Justice' is problematic because, for me, justice is not punitive or is it ever punitive. How do we know if justice is present? It's never going to be punitive; it's never violent or full of vengeance. I think justice is a feeling, and we can redefine this feeling as loving awareness in action. With this new definition of justice as a feeling, then justice is based in the body. Justice is something we can become aware of through body-based practices. These practices can become part of feeling justice in the body, and we can begin the collective journey of what justice feels like."

About Our Guests:

Dr. Sará King is a neuroscientist, political and learning scientist, medical anthropologist, social entrepreneur, public speaker, and certified yoga and meditation instructor. She is an internationally recognized thought leader in the interdisciplinary field that examines the role of social justice, art, and mindfulness in neuroscience. Dr. King is currently an NIH post-doctoral fellow in Neurology at Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) in the Oregon Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Neurological Disorders.

Dr. King's research and teaching focus on the relationship between mindfulness, community alternative medicine, and social justice with an emphasis on examining the relationship between individual and collective awareness as it relates to well-being and the healing of intergenerational trauma. She is the creator of the "Science of Social Justice" framework for research and facilitation, and the "Systems-Based Awareness Map," a model of the relationship between individual and collective awareness and well-being. Dr. King has worked with organizations such as Nike, the Jordan Brand, the Ford Foundation, Google, The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, Oxford University, Columbia University, OHSU, UCLA, UCSF, and Harvard Medical School.

You can read more about her work here: https://mindheartconsulting.com/about/

Your host Blaire Embrey (RYT 500) is the Communications Manager for Prison Yoga Project and the producer of Prison Yoga Project Podcast. She is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, Post-Lineage Yoga, and Peruvian Mountain Shamanism; she is pulled towards the profound mystery of existence, cultivating compassion for all beings, and holding space. 

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

We were so lucky to sit down with Dr. Jenn and learn more about her work and incredible commitment to study she has dedicated over the past decade. Dr. Bourgeois has made it part of her mission to bring yoga and trauma-informed care to incarcerated and justice-involved mothers. Through her research, she has examined the relationship between parental status, race, gender, age and arresting charges and highlighted the need for transformative justice and alternatives to incarceration. Join us as Dr. Bourgeois shares her work teaching yoga at Santa Maria Hostel, a residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment center in Houston, Texas, where she facilitates yoga with justice-involved mothers to support their recovery and foster life skills. Don't miss this inspiring conversation on the intersection of yoga and social justice.

How to get into contact with Dr. Jennifer Bourgeois

Instagram: @jennwith2ns_yogi

Email: jennifer@pagesandposes.com

More info: www.pagesandposes.com

Donate to Prison Yoga Project - Houston

https://prisonyoga.kindful.com/?campaign=1166668

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

She shares her purpose, heart-work, and journey working with incarcerated populations throughout Australia. We witness the story of her path unfolding through chapters of navigating grief, PTSD, and finding yoga. She speaks so eloquently of how yoga helped her reconnect to her body and more.

As with most of the conversations we host, we speak of sensitive topics. We invite you to join when you are feeling resourced.

Sonia Brown-Diaz (RYT-200) has been using trauma-informed yoga practices for over 16 yrs as a path to healing from the seemingly insurmountable grief and subsequent PTSD she experienced following the stillbirth of her twin sons (Izaak and Kurtis) in 2003. 

After having completed PYP training in Brixton in 2018, Sonia’s innate desire to work with marginalised groups didn’t require any further thought. Since then, Sonia has founded Yoga on the Inside (an affiliate partner of PYP and Australian Ambassador), and has introduced trauma-informed yoga classes and programs (over 15 programs across 9 prisons) around Australia. With the assistance of some wonderful facilitators that Yoga on the Inside has engaged, and the support and mentorship of PYP’s global sangha, the programs are gaining more interest as the evidence of their benefits on incarcerated persons continues to become more and more evident.

Being able to mentor and guide facilitators here in Australia who want to take on this path of karma yoga is a blessing and sharing this practice on a weekly basis with people who are incarcerated is something that is never taken for granted. Sharing space and building healthy relationships with other human beings is immeasurable.

Your host Blaire Embrey (RYT 500), is the Communications Manager for Prison Yoga Project and the producer of Prison Yoga Project Podcast. She is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, Post-Lineage Yoga, and Peruvian Mountain Shamanism; she is pulled towards the profound mystery of existence, cultivating compassion for all beings and holding space.

Sonia’s Website

https://yogaontheinside.com.au/

Reciprocity - Yoga Australia's Reconciliation Action Plan

https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/about-us/reciprocity-action-plan/

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Retired Judge Victor Reyes spent most of his legal career working in the Colorado Criminal Justice System, first as a public defender and then 15 years as a judge for the 10th Judicial District in Southern Colorado. In that time, he developed a deep understanding of the people he defended and whose cases came before him. In 2015, he retired from the bench but soon would be working within the criminal justice system again, this time as a yoga and meditation teacher.

Victor was introduced to the spiritual and yogic practices that would "change the course of his life" in 2012. Seeing the benefits of the practices in his personal life, after Victor retired from the bench, he contacted the Youth Offender System (YOS) management in La Vista, Colorado. The young men sentenced to this facility were usually convicted of violent felonies. It was the last opportunity for the youth before the system would transfer them to the general population. It felt like the right place to try to make a difference. 

Shortly after he began working with the youth, he was asked to provide practices for adults at the La Vista Correctional Facility. Around this time, he also started work with groups of survivors of domestic violence. 

In 2018, Victor began leading yoga practices at the minimum security camp at the Federal Correctional facility in Florence, Colorado. Shortly after, he was asked to bring mediation classes to the USP ADMAX-Florence facility, one of the highest security correctional facilities in the US. 

He has provided training locally, nationally, and internationally on issues related to domestic violence since 2002 and personal wellness since 2016. He also facilitates groups for elementary-age children residing in underfunded Pueblo communities.

Thank you for being here to witness Judge Reyes's stories. His life is a true testament to living your yoga.

Bill Brown, the Executive Director of Prison Yoga Project, hosts this conversation.

Bill Brown, C-IAYT, is the Executive Director of Prison Yoga Project (PYP), a non-profit organization that supports incarcerated people worldwide with trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness programs. Through his work with PYP, he hopes to promote social change, transforming our systems and culture to create a more inclusive, equitable, and just world. Bill began working with PYP in 2013 and had served in Federal, State, and County facilities. In 2016 he began offering training with PYP in trauma-informed yoga for incarcerated people and assumed the Executive Director’s role in 2018. He is a contributing editor to the Yoga Service Council/Omega Institute’s book “Best Practices for Yoga in the Criminal Justice System.” In his downtime, Bill enjoys the creative outlets of photography and cooking and is an avid reader of science fiction.

Blaire Embrey, our Communications Manager, joins in for the Question and Answer period. 

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Featured Guest: Dr. Sam Himelstein

Host: Blaire Embrey

Recorded on: 1/13/2023

In this first episode of our 2023 season, Dr. Sam Himelstein starts by sharing his mindfulness journey, being incarcerated on and off as a youth, and the root of addiction. From here, we flow into a potent conversation, sharing the impact of working at the local level of our justice system and practical tools for showing up in a place of leadership that will cultivate the foundation for building emotional safety in your professional relationships. 

Dr. Sam Himelstein is a Psychologist in California. He works with high-risk and marginalized youth in the juvenile justice system, foster care system, and those suffering from addiction issues. He worked at the Chemical Dependency program at Kaiser Permanente with teens and their families in several juvenile halls conducting psychotherapy, psychological evaluations, and researching the benefit of mindfulness-based interventions with incarcerated and underserved youth populations. He is the founder and president of the Center for Adolescent Studies. https://centerforadolescentstudies.com/

Dr. Sam Himelstein is passionate about training professionals from multiple disciplines to create authentic, healing relationships with adolescents that contribute to positive outcomes. 

Dr. Himselstein is a formerly incarcerated youth himself and shares that he feels privileged to change his life from a path of drugs, violence, crime, and self-destruction to that of healing and transformation. His mission is to help young people become aware of the power of self-awareness and transformation and train professionals with similar interests. 

Your host Blaire Embrey (RYT 500) is the Communications Manager for Prison Yoga Project and the producer of Prison Yoga Project Podcast. She is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, Post-Lineage Yoga, and Peruvian Mountain Shamanism; she is pulled towards the profound mystery of existence, cultivating compassion for all beings, and holding space. 

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Susan Shannon, M. Div., BCC is a seeker, teacher, earth and animal steward, devotee of the heart. She has worked in the fields of Emotional Literacy and Restorative Justice for over 20 years, incorporating over 45 years of Buddhist practice and study from the Tibetan tradition, having been blessed to have studied under many of Tibet’s greatest scholars of these times. She’s worked with various diverse populations all her life including inmates, Tibetan refugees, the homeless, the differently-abled, at-risk youth, and most recently, Buddhist Chaplain to the men in San Quentin State Prison and Death Row. She currently teaches about spiritual care and chaplaincy through the Pacific Institute, as well as classes on Tibetan Buddhism through Sukhasiddhi Foundation, The Chaplaincy Institute of Interfaith Studies and various other Dharma Centers. Susan is the founder of the Buddhist Prison Ministry, providing correspondence classes to prison populations across the US. She resides in the San Juan Islands where she writes, provides spiritual coaching and cares for the sacred ground she shares with many sentient beings!  

Your host Blaire Embrey (RYT 500) is the Communications Manager for Prison Yoga Project and the producer of Prison Yoga Project Podcast. She is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, Post-Lineage Yoga, and Peruvian Mountain Shamanism; she is pulled towards the profound mystery of existence, cultivating compassion for all beings, and holding space. 

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Featured Guest Kristin Varner

Host Blaire Embrey

Recorded on 9/24/21

In this episode, we speak with Kristin Varner, yoga facilitator and lawyer, about the unpredictability of facilitating in a post-pandemic world and how our personal practice supports all aspects of our lives and facilitation. If you’re looking to become a facilitator or offer programming in incarcerated settings, this is a must-listen interview. 

Personal Statement: Kristin loves yoga and loves sharing what she loves. After practicing yoga and law for two decades, she combined her passion for yoga and advocacy to co-found Community Yoga Initiative to help expand the reach of yoga through affordable, accessible, and inclusive yoga outreach programs. The heart of her yoga practice rests in the cultivation of awareness and love to discover and let go of ways of being that limit freedom. Embodied presence and energetic perception are central to Kristin’s sharing of yoga. 

Through the Prison Yoga Project, Kristin shares yoga with people housed at the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, California. She leads yoga and meditation programs for youth, college athletes, non-profit organizations, and workplaces in Southern California and currently instructs yoga for the United States Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team. 

Your host Blaire Embrey (RYT 500) is the Community Engagement Manager for Prison Yoga Project and the producer of Prison Yoga Project Podcast. She is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, Post-Lineage Yoga, and Peruvian Mountain Shamanism; she is pulled towards the profound mystery of existence, cultivating compassion for all beings, and holding space.

Thank you, Priscilla Castro for editing and post-production!

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!

Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an activist, social justice warrior, author, anti-racism consultant and trainer, intuitive healer, and yoga teacher and practitioner. She has led dismantling racism work in many settings for over two decades and has a background and two decades of practice as a clinical social worker. Michelle’s work centers on healing from individual and collective trauma, coming back into wholeness, and aligning the mind, body, spirit, and heart. 

You can donate to Prison Yoga Project here: https://prisonyoga.kindful.com

You can train with Prison Yoga Project here: https://community.prisonyoga.org/training-programs/

You can find other episodes on our community website: https://community.prisonyoga.org/webinar-replays/

Foundational Training: Yoga Through the Lens of Trauma and Incarceration

Ignite a profound shift within yourself and the lives of others as you embark on a transformative journey through our Foundational Training. Join our vibrant community and unlock the keys to empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. 

Use code PYPPODCAST for 10% off Prison Yoga Project trainings!