Spotlight on PYP Sweden | Prison Yoga Project Global Programs

Prison Yoga Project offers a Restorative Justice practice that focuses on recovery from trauma, development of resilience, and cultivation of empathy, compassion, and personal responsibility. Our evidence-supported, trauma-informed approach to yoga and mindfulness supports people in facing and releasing unresolved trauma safely and effectively.

PYP was founded by James Fox at San Quentin Prison where he and his associate instructors have been teaching trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness classes to incarcerated people around the world since 2002.

Meet the Director:

PYP Sweden

Prison Yoga Project Sweden provides essential support through yoga programs aiding re-entry, drug rehabilitation, and trauma-exposed youth. This includes specialized Trauma-Informed Yoga teacher training designed for individuals who have been previously incarcerated, empowering them to rebuild their lives and assist others in their recovery journey. These initiatives are crucial for facilitating rehabilitation, personal growth, and social reintegration for those affected by incarceration.

Highlights

Offers free yoga classes for formerly incarcerated individuals in Stockholm, Norrköping, and members of the organization KRIS in Gothenburg, providing critical support for reintegration into society.
Serves as a collaborative partner in a comprehensive research project utilizing Trauma-Adapted Yoga as therapeutic support within Forensic Psychiatry, affecting care in 14 regional clinics nationwide and demonstrating a dedication to pioneering mental health interventions.
Provides trauma-informed yoga training specifically for formerly incarcerated individuals, aiming to reach trauma-exposed youth with criminal lifestyles and highlighting a proactive approach to rehabilitation and prevention.
Is in the process of publishing a book with trauma-informed practices created in collaboration with incarcerated and ex-incarcerated men, offering unique insights into yoga’s therapeutic benefits and contributing valuable knowledge and resources to the field.

I feel a sense of purpose and community for the first time in many years, thanks to the Prison Yoga Project here in Sweden. It's aiding my sobriety and keeping my mind positive, and it's inspiring me for my future. Living a life where I can rest in my own body is a freedom beyond words.

PYP Participant

in the re-entry process

It’s time we emphasize healing over punishment

Our mission goes beyond rehabilitation. We advocate for a transformative shift in our culture, from punitive judgment to healing-centered approaches. By investing in healing over punishment, we strive to change society’s perspective on the root causes of harm, addressing issues at their source and breaking the cycles that perpetuate suffering.