What is Restorative Justice?
Punitive Justice causes more harm than it prevents. It harms incarcerated people, people working in the system, and their families and communities. It punishes addiction and mental illness rather than providing treatment for those who cannot afford private care. Punitive Justice systems place the offender at the center of the process, seeking only punishment for […]
The Origin of Prison Yoga Project’s Book Program
How did Prison Yoga Project’s Book Program get started? “I had been teaching yoga at San Quentin for seven years, and a number of my students had been released and wanted to continue practicing. This was the original motivation for writing the book. I’d seen the positive impact yoga was having with the men and […]
PYP Participant Testimonials
Prison Yoga Project directly and positively impacts the daily lives of incarcerated women and men across the country. We are proud to support the people we serve and those who serve with us in their ability to connect with their higher selves. Read some of the testimonials throughout the years: “I have back and neck […]
Lori Collins – Scholarship Recipient, YTT Graduate, and Facilitator
Meet Lori Collins, Prison Yoga Project scholarship recipient, YTT graduate, and facilitator. She’s shining example of how your support for our scholarship fund translates into healing for whole communities. More than any other factor, what enables our continued growth is the availability of well-qualified teachers. We awarded over $120,000 in scholarships for our trainings in […]
PYP Featured: A Trauma-informed Approach to Exercise Leadership
Discover the transformative power of a trauma-informed approach to exercise leadership in this enlightening article! Bill Brown, Executive Director of the Prison Yoga Project, shares his expertise in fostering resilience and healing through yoga. PYP’s approach, designed for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, focuses on trust, agency, and stress management. This article delves […]
Prison Yoga Project x Trauma Research Foundation
“Throughout the US and our in-prison classes internationally, we see transformations in the people we serve each week. For many incarcerated people, our program offers the beginning of self-awareness, practical skills for self-regulation, and insight into what drives their behavior and why they ended up in prison. By identifying their symptoms of trauma and finding […]
International Program Highlight: Australia
“Earlier this year I applied to be considered for Impact Boom’s Elevate + Accelerator Program (funded by the Queensland Government) which aims to tackle social & environmental issues through the leadership of local entrepreneurs who are dedicated to making “change for good”. This is a cohort of 13 dynamic social enterprises throughout South East Queensland. […]
“Restorative Justice Can Create Safer, More Prosperous Communities”
Stacy Morrissey is a Rockford resident and a program director and facilitator for the Prison Yoga Project. Her work was shared in her local newspaper! An excerpt and the link to the entire article is listed below. “I have been working since 2019 as a volunteer trauma-informed yoga instructor at the Winnebago County Jail as […]
What Could Have Kept Me Out of Prison
The Marshall Project Reporting and Research: We asked people behind bars what services and programs could have changed the course of their lives. Therapy, affordable housing and a living wage topped the list. This work is continually heartbreaking, what services do you provide that support the lives of others? Read the article and the list […]
