Spotlight on PYP USA | Prison Yoga Project Global Programs

Prison Yoga Project provides over 180 programs globally to people in prisons and jails, at-risk youth, people in recovery, and the post-incarceration community. Our primary population is incarcerated youth and adults. We also provide ongoing training and support to a diverse population of yoga facilitators, as well as training and support for institutional staff.

In 2002, James Fox began offering yoga and mindfulness practices to incarcerated people at San Quentin State Prison through the Insight Prison Project. His experience working alongside the men he practiced with showed him the significant impact yoga programs could have on incarcerated individuals. He recognized the importance of creating accessible programs designed for those who have experienced trauma and can operate in non-traditional yoga settings. James and his weekly classes at San Quentin remained consistent for a decade before becoming an official non-profit.

PYP USA

Prison Yoga Project (PYP) was established in 2010 and became fiscally sponsored by the Give Back Yoga Foundation. That year, PYP launched its unique trauma-informed and mindfulness-based teacher training program in multiple U.S. locations. From 2013 to 2019, the training expanded to Europe, Canada, and Mexico. By 2019, PYP had trained over 2,500 teachers and implemented more than 125 programs globally. In 2020, PYP received its 501(c)(3) designation and became a standalone nonprofit.

Highlights

In 2023, we surveyed 90 participants from PYP prison programs across California:

98% of participants agree, with 70% strongly agreeing, that our program significantly enhanced their empathy and mindfulness
97% of participants, with 84% strongly agreeing, found our program instrumental in managing stress and coping with traumatic experiences
91% of participants, with 78% strongly agreeing, reported a reduction in anger and aggression thanks to our program
Impressively, 100% of our participants feel they benefited from the program, with 94% strongly agreeing
100% of participants would recommend our program, with 97% strongly endorsing it

Because of yoga, I think more clearly, I’m physically fit, emotionally sound and in control but most importantly, because I’m a very spiritual person, yoga has helped me stay more grounded internally.

T.H.

RJ Donovan State Prison, San Diego, CA

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.