By James Fox, PYP Founder
What happens when some of the world’s leading voices on trauma step inside a notorious prison?
On April 10, San Quentin welcomed Dr. Bessel van der Kolk—psychiatrist, researcher, and author of the groundbreaking The Body Keeps the Score—along with somatic educator Licia Sky. Hosted by San Quentin Mental Health in collaboration with Prison Yoga Project, the event brought together incarcerated residents, staff, and PYP’s James Fox and Josefin Wikström for a powerful dialogue about trauma and healing.
In this moving short film—produced by incarcerated residents in the prison’s media center as they learn and apply video production skills—hear firsthand from Dr. van der Kolk, Licia Sky, and the men at San Quentin about:
- The hidden cost of trauma on the body
- How shame, violence, and silence shape generations
- The role of movement, breath, and mindfulness in healing
- How trauma-informed yoga is creating new paths to self-regulation and connection behind bars
“Learning to make your body feel safe is the greatest challenge in healing trauma.”
Bessel van der Kolk
The venue for the event was packed with incarcerated residents, the prison’s medical staff, and mental health providers. A 20-minute presentation by Dr. van der Kolk was followed by 90 minutes of questions from residents, which allowed for a deeper discussion and exchange related to trauma healing. The evening closed with a memorable moment: Dr. van der Kolk signing copies of his book for many men who had brought their own well-worn editions with them.
