The Quiet Work of Changing a Culture of Violence
Earlier this month, The New Yorker published a powerful and painful article titled “A Year of Convulsions in New York’s Prisons”. It recounts the killing…
Author: Nicole
Behind the Scenes: Creating PYP’s First Graphic Novel
At Prison Yoga Project, we love to share stories of impact—how yoga is reaching people in prisons and jails, and how it’s reshaping communities. Today’s…
Prison Officer. Space Holder. Healer.
Author’s note: I usually use the term “incarcerated people” when referring to those behind bars, as it centers their humanity. In this piece, you’ll also…
Showing Up Matters: Reflections from RISE25
From May 28th through June 1st, I had the privilege of representing Prison Yoga Project (PYP) at the RISE25 Conference in Kissimmee, Florida. Hosted by All…
Millions Denied Voting Rights in Midterms Due to Felony Convictions
A new report released by The Sentencing Project estimates that 4.6 million people (one in every 50 adults) are barred from voting in the 2022…
PYP Facilitator Highlight: Jennifer Bourgeois
Jennifer Bourgeois, Ph.D., a member of the PYP Facilitator Community, recently wrote a blog post for the Black Yoga Teacher’s Association (BYTA), sharing her goal…
Yoga for Youth and Correctional Staff in 2022
I can understand how easy it might be to feel discouraged or even outraged right now with our society so divided. I have a reason…
Demonstrating the Impact and Importance of Our Work
For those who don’t know me, my name is Nicole Hellthaler, and I am PYP’s Assistant Director. I live in Little Rock, Arkansas, where I…
A New Lease on Life – People Convicted of Violent Crimes Are Rarely Rearrested for New Violent Crimes
Analysis from a new report by the Sentencing Project, released June 30, 2021, show most state-level studies show that people who are released from life…
Raising the Age Without Expanding Secure Confinement in the Youth Justice System
Over the past decade, great strides have been taken to reduce the number of youth incarcerated and to address the racial disparity in the youth…