If you were unable to join live, please share your reflection as you watch the recording. This week's session began by sharing the series of Guest Lectures available. These lectures are optional, but you are encouraged to watch any or all of them!

This session also explored the final niyama of Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender) and offered space to co-create a sequence.

Consider sharing your thoughts on the discussion of surrender. Because these breakout workshops were not recorded, please consider taking time to review the copy of the facilitation guide that was shared in the 9/10 Session Agenda email and work through how you might customize a practice to share with those you serve or plan to serve.

Each guest brings a different lens—rooted in personal practice, social justice, trauma-informed healing, and systemic wisdom. This series is an invitation to expand our understanding of what it means to teach, serve, and hold space—especially in carceral and system-impacted environments.

These additional lectures are optional. You are welcome to watch as many of them as you would like, but these sessions are not required.

🗓️ Guest Lecture Series:

Robert Sturman

Title: To Be Seen: Yoga, Dignity, and the Art of Witnessing in Prisons
Bio: Award-winning photographer known for capturing healing and dignity in prison yoga spaces.

Dr. Jennifer Bourgeois

Title: Cultural Responsibility & Humility in Criminal Justice Work
Bio: Trauma-informed counselor and researcher focused on justice-impacted communities.

Nikki Myers

Title: Healing in the Margins
Bio: Founder of Y12SR, working at the intersections of recovery, justice, and embodied healing.

Nicole Hellthaler

Title: Managing Challenging Behaviors in Trauma-Informed Spaces
Bio: Executive Director of Prison Yoga Project and expert in trauma-informed systems and care.

Sonia Brown-Diaz

Title: Maintaining Facility Relationships & Self-Regulation in a Carceral Setting
Bio: Founder of Yoga on the Inside and Australian PYP Ambassador, focused on ethical service in prisons.

Dr. Haunani Chong Drake

Title: Cultural Stewardship and the Five Elements
Bio: Native Hawaiian scholar integrating Indigenous healing and trauma recovery practices.

Diane Ambrosini

Title: Understanding the Vagus Nerve Through a Yogic Lens
Bio: Yoga therapist and educator specializing in nervous system health and trauma-informed movement.

Hari-Kirtana Das

Title: Exploring the Bhagavad Gita
Bio: Yoga philosophy teacher making classical texts accessible through humor and social ethics.

Bill Brown

Title: Beyond Asana: Integrating Wisdom from Tradition, Science, and Life
Bio: Programs Director of Prison Yoga Project and longtime yoga educator weaving together insights from yoga philosophy, science, and lived experience.

Sachi Doctor

Title: Healing with Ayurveda: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Restoring & Maintaining Balance
Bio: Ayurvedic practitioner and founder of Elemental Alchemy, bridging science and spirit.

Judge Victor Reyes

Title: Authenticity in Service Work
Bio: Retired judge integrating yoga, mindfulness, and justice reform.

Josefin Wikström

Title: Adapting Trauma-Informed Yoga for Mental Health

Additional Session w/Josefin- Facilitator Workshop: Working with Severe Mental Health Challenges in Correctional Settings with Josefin Wikström

Bio: Global leader in trauma-informed yoga in psychiatric and carceral systems.

Kim Peacock

Title: Guiding Incarcerated Youth
Bio: Canadian PYP Ambassador with deep experience teaching yoga to system-impacted youth.

We hope you enjoy the insight in these powerful conversations. All questions, curiosities, and reflections are welcome in this space.
With gratitude,
🌿 Jen & The PYP Training Team

This week we discussed the Niyama of Santosha (Contentment) and explored the 7th week of introducing a new program, focusing on the Integration and Relaxation phase of sequencing. 

Kindly share what resonated with you or feel welcome to review the following suggested prompts:

• How might you incorporate discussions of the niyama of Contentment in spaces where contentment may not feel accessible to participants?
• What is your personal relationship with rest and/or integration of new learning or topics that you might share to support participants?

This week we began our time together by reviewing the final reflection projects of former graduates. This slide presentation is to support you in seeing the variety of ways you may choose to share your final reflection!

We also explored two Niyamas, Svadhyaya (self study) and Tapas (Discipline) in our continued exploration of yoga philosophy. For the practical workshop, breakout groups were invited to use templates from the facilitation guide to co create a practice for a specific population.

As you review the recording, please feel welcome to share what resonated with you! If you prefer prompts, please consider sharing your thoughts on how Svadhyaya and Tapas may be supportive topics to discuss with those you serve or how you might adapt a practice for the unique population you currently serve or plan to serve.

During our August 20 live session, we began exploring the Niyamas with Saucha (purity/clarity) and continued our trauma-informed sequencing work with the Connection & Focus phase, including our Week 6 pilot program demonstration and sequence lab.

If you weren't able to join us live, or would like to continue reflecting after revisiting the recording, you're invited to share whatever resonated with you. If a prompt is helpful, you might consider:

• How does thinking about Saucha as clarity influence or expand your understanding of this Niyama?
• What did you notice about the ways a facilitator can invite connection and focus without deciding what attention or engagement should look like for a participant?
• Is there something from the demonstration or sequence lab that you would like to experiment with or adapt within your own facilitation?

You're also always welcome to skip the prompts and simply share a question, observation, or moment from the session that stayed with you.

Our August 13 live session began with a midpoint check-in before moving into our exploration of Aparigraha (non-attachment/non-grasping). We also considered the chakra system as part of this conversation and continued our practical sequencing work with the Strength & Resilience phase.

If you weren't able to join us live, please watch the recording above and share whatever resonated with you. If you prefer a little structure for your reflection, you might consider one or more of these optional prompts:

• How does Aparigraha invite you to think differently about attachment, expectations, letting go, or your role as a facilitator?
• What, if anything, resonated with you as we explored the chakra system alongside our discussion of yoga philosophy?
• During the Strength & Resilience sequencing discussion and practice, what did you notice about how we might invite participants to explore strength without defining for them what strength should look or feel like?

This session invited exploration into the 4th yama of Brahmacharya (non-excess) and continued building our trauma-informed sequencing skills through an introduction to Centering & Somatics.

Whether you joined us live or are watching the recording this week, you're warmly invited to share anything that stood out to you.

Optional reflection prompts:

• What, if anything, resonated with you about Brahmacharya as an invitation toward balance or sustainability rather than restriction?

• As you practiced or observed the centering and somatic sequence, what did you notice about your own experience? Was there anything that surprised you?

This week's mindfulness invitation is to notice balance and stability in your daily life. Where are you currently finding steadiness? Where are you noticing opportunities to cultivate a little more balance?

Anyone else started teaching? What has come up for you?

Recording: https://vimeo.com/1212725884/eb6ec1ba47?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Thank you for another engaging session together! If you missed the live gathering—or would simply like to revisit our conversation—you can find the recording above.

As you reflect on this week's discussion, you might consider sharing:

• How has your understanding of Asteya (non-stealing) expanded beyond material possessions?
• What observations arose during our exploration of physical and emotional range of motion?
• Is there a moment from our discussion, movement practice, or workshop that you'll carry forward into your own personal practice or facilitation?

You're also welcome to share any other reflections or questions that emerged while watching.