Who We Are

The Prison Yoga Project (PYP) is a global nonprofit organization that has developed a holistic approach to rehabilitation and transformation within the criminal justice system.

PYP was founded by James Fox at San Quentin Prison where he and fellow facilitators have been teaching trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness classes to people impacted by incarceration since 2002.

Our programs are grounded in evidence-based trauma-informed yoga and embodied mindfulness practices, equipping individuals with the essential tools for self-regulation, self-discovery, and personal growth.

WATCH: Yoga Journal PYP Segment

Mission

Our mission is to provide programs for rehabilitation and resilience rooted in yoga and embodied mindfulness.

Vision

We envision a cultural-shift toward a healing-centered approach to addressing crime, substance use disorder, and mental health disorders.

Safety

People are at their best when they feel a sense of safety and belonging. We prioritize creating a supportive environment that fosters trust, resilience, and personal transformation. Doing so we allow space for people to explore moving beyond their comfort zone, express themselves authentically and with integrity, and embark on transformative journeys with confidence.

Inclusivity

We embrace our shared humanity and strive to transcend division by valuing and respecting the unique perspectives and experiences of all people. Fostering inclusivity supports a sense of belonging, harnesses the power of diverse voices, and paves the way for collective growth.

Equity

We recognize that people face different challenges and experience different privileges due to social, economic, and racial disparities. By striving for equity, we aim to level the playing field, reduce inequalities, and provide equitable access to healing resources and opportunities for all.

Mindfulness

We believe in mindfulness practices to cultivate self-awareness, compassion, and emotional well-being. Mindfulness enhances our ability to regulate emotions and reduce stress. It supports developing healthier coping strategies, increasing self-compassion, and responding to challenging situations with clarity and resilience.

Empowerment

Empowerment fosters a sense of agency, self-confidence, and self-efficacy. It enables individuals to recognize their own strengths, set and achieve goals, and envision a positive future. People who are empowered take charge of their lives, make positive choices, and contribute to their communities in a way that aligns with their values and needs.

Integrity

We believe in acting with honesty, transparency, and consistency, ensuring that our words align with our deeds. Living the value of integrity requires holding ourselves accountable, acknowledging our mistakes, accepting responsibility, and accepting the consequences of our actions.

Continuous Learning

We believe in ongoing learning, growth, and staying informed. Continuous learning allows us to adapt and improve, ensuring we remain effective, evidence-based, and responsive to conditions. It encourages personal and professional development, promotes innovation, and strengthens our organization’s capacity to effect positive change.

Understanding Punitive Justice

Punitive Justice places the offender at the center of the process, seeking only punishment for a crime. This traditional approach focuses on retribution rather than rehabilitation or community healing. The primary goal is to impose penalties that serve as a deterrent to crime, often resulting in incarceration, fines, or other forms of punishment.

Punitive Justice emphasizes the following principles:

Retribution

Punishment is imposed as a form of vengeance for the wrongdoing.

Deterrence

The aim is to deter the offender and others from committing future crimes through fear of punishment.

Incapacitation

Removing the offender from society to prevent further harm.

Retributive Justice

A theory that justifies punishment as a morally appropriate response to crime.

While Punitive Justice seeks to uphold the rule of law and maintain social order, it often overlooks the needs of survivors and fails to address the root causes of criminal behavior.

Critics argue that this approach can lead to overcrowded prisons, recidivism, and a lack of opportunities for offenders to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.

Embracing Restorative Justice

The systemic and cultural shift we seek is rooted in the philosophy of Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice places the survivor at the center of the process and seeks to address the impact and harm of a crime and encourages accountability to repair the harm caused to survivors, families, and the community.

Restorative Justice emphasizes the following principles:

Healing

Focuses on the needs of survivors and communities to heal from the trauma of harm.

Accountability

Encourages those who caused harm to take responsibility for their actions and make amends.

Reintegration

Supports those who caused harm  in making positive changes and reintegrating into society.

Collaboration

Involves all stakeholders in the justice process, including survivors, those who caused harm, and community members.

At Prison Yoga Project, we offer 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 individuals in facing and releasing unresolved trauma safely and effectively.

Through our programs, we aim to build a supportive community that values personal growth, mutual respect, and collective healing. By fostering a sense of belonging and connection, we help individuals on their journey towards healing and transformation.

In Over 12 Countries Worldwide

We support system-impacted people worldwide, including in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Sweden, the Netherlands, the U.K., Portugal, France, Australia, and more.