Yoga as a Restorative Path to Rehabilitation for Incarcerated People
This course in no longer available for purchase
The United States incarcerates more people per capita than any other country in the world. Globally, an estimated 11.6 million people are in jails and prisons, with the majority serving time for nonviolent offenses. The impact of mass incarceration is felt disproportionately by communities of color, with Black and Hispanic individuals making up a disproportionate number of those behind bars.
Yoga teachers and therapists are in a unique position to support incarcerated individuals and help move the criminal justice system from one of retribution to one of restoration. Yoga can provide a space for healing and self-reflection, allowing incarcerated individuals to heal trauma that may have led to criminal behavior. It can also be a powerful tool for those who work in the criminal justice system to manage stress, build empathy, and process trauma in their day-to-day work.
This course explores the relationship between trauma and incarceration, differences between restorative and retributive justice, and how yoga can support therapeutic rehabilitation. You'll learn about the relationship between trauma and one's likelihood to be incarcerated, its disproportionate impact on communities marginalized from centers of power, and the unique challenges of providing trauma-informed care in correctional settings. Whether you're a yoga teacher or therapist looking to work in a correctional setting, or simply interested in learning more about this important issue, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how yoga can make a difference in the lives of those affected by mass incarceration.
Introduction to the Course
Welcome from the Faculty
Meet James and Josefin, Your Course Leaders
What You Can Expect From This Course
Introduction
Creating a Cultural Shift in the Criminal Justice System
The Impact of a Yoga Program in a Prison
What is it Like to be Incarcerated in the World Today?
A Picture of Mass Incarceration in the United States
The Correctional System Beyond Incarceration
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Prison System
How Education and Poverty Impact Incarcerated People
Alternatives to a Retributive Justice System
Introduction to the Yoga Practice
Grounding, Discharge, Releasing Frustration
Introduction
Addiction and Mental Health Among Incarcerated People
What Do We Mean By Trauma?
How Different Types of Trauma Show up in the Incarcerated Population
Transgenerational Trauma, Gangs, and Criminalization
Connection Between ACEs and Adult Criminality
Introduction
Bessel van der Kolk, MD on Trauma and the Body
A Few Words About What's Next
How Yoga Supports Healing from Trauma
Integrating Cognitive Approaches with Yoga
Developing Greater Empathy and Sensitivity to Self through Yoga
Helping Bring Emotional Balance to Incarcerated Women
Introduction to the Yoga Practice
Feeling Sensations, Moving with Breath Awareness
How Yoga Made a Difference in One Incarcerated Woman’s Life
Introduction
How the Principles and Practices of Classical Yoga Support Rehabilitation
How the Path of Karma Yoga Informs Our Work
Yoga Therapy as a Framework to Support Incarcerated People
The Distinction Between Teaching and Facilitating Yoga Classes
Introduction
Research on the Benefits of Yoga for Incarcerated People
Incarcerated Men Share Their Experiences with Yoga
The Impact of the Prison Yoga Project Programs
How to Continue Your Training with Prison Yoga Project
How to Get Continuing Education Credits for this Course
Instructor Bio:
Founder of Prison Yoga Project
Instructor Bio:
Program Director and Training Coordinator of the Prison Yoga Project