Welcome everyone — I’m so excited to begin this journey together.
This forum will serve as our shared community space throughout the training. Here you’ll find:
- Weekly live session recordings
- Slide decks and additional resources
- Announcements and reminders
- Space to ask questions and continue discussions
- Opportunities to plan study groups or practice shares
- A place to exchange ideas, insight, reflections, and support with one another
You are encouraged not only to post, but also to spend time reading and engaging with the introductions and reflections of others as our community begins to take shape.
Introduce Yourself 👋
When you’re ready, please share a short introduction including anything you’d like the cohort to know about you.
Some optional prompts:
About You
- Where are you joining from?
- What brought you to yoga or mindfulness practices?
- What communities or populations are important in your life?
Community of Service
- Are there particular communities you currently serve or hope to support?
- What draws you toward trauma-informed practice or social justice work?
Goals for the Training
- What are you hoping to learn, deepen, or explore during this cohort?
- Is there anything you’re especially excited or nervous about?
There’s no “right” way to introduce yourself — share as much or as little as feels comfortable.
Really grateful you’re here and looking forward to learning alongside all of you over the coming months 💛
I realized I should introduce myself here too.
I’m Jen, and I’ll be facilitating this YTT cohort alongside this session's teaching assistant, Alejandro and a wonderful community of guest lecturers, mentors, and support staff through Prison Yoga Project.
I’m based in New Hampshire, known also as N’dakinna, which is the traditional ancestral homeland of the Abenaki, Pennacook and Wabanaki Peoples past and present. I acknowledge and honor with gratitude the land and waterways and the alnobak (people) who have stewarded N’dakinna throughout the generations. It is here that I facilitate trauma-informed yoga programs in prisons, re-entry spaces, recovery communities, and nonprofit settings. My work with PYP began after my own experiences with trauma, addiction, and system involvement in my youth, which deeply shaped my understanding of both harm and healing. Yoga became an important part of rebuilding trust with my own body, mind, and relationships, and over time, this work evolved into service and facilitation.
A large part of my focus now is supporting accessible yoga education for communities impacted by incarceration, substance use, mental health challenges, and systemic harm. I’m especially passionate about creating spaces where people feel welcome exactly as they are — without needing to perform, prove, or already “know” yoga.
What continues to inspire me most is witnessing people reconnect with themselves and with one another in ways that restore dignity, choice, and possibility.
I’m really looking forward to learning more about each of you, the communities you serve, and what has brought you to this training.
– Jen
Director of Training | Prison Yoga Project
Hi Everyone! I'm Michelle and I am based in Linthicum, MD. I am a lawyer, currently practicing immigration and criminal law. I was a public defender for most of my 25+ years so I've spent a lot of time in jails and prisons, working with folks deeply affected by trauma, addiction and racial/societal injustice. It's always been my dream to find a way to bring yoga to the justice impacted community and I am so excited to have found the Prison Yoga Project and this training. Yoga and meditation are the only things keeping me sane these days so I look forward to progressing in my personal journey but mostly I hope to finally have the tools I need to bring these important practices to the community of folks I care about so much.
Looking forward to connecting and learning with you all!
~Michelle
Hi, all! I'm Stacey and live in Yardley, PA. I spend the summers in Chincoteague, VA, so I'll start the course there. I've practiced yoga for many years, and it has been a gift, helping me connect to my body and the present moment. It's been hard work and so rewarding!
In 2022, my world turned upside down, and, without sharing too much since the matter is still unresolved, I had a front-row seat to the criminal justice system. I have so much to say, but I'll keep this short: shining a light on the goodness in all people and sharing the practice of yoga are my driving forces and why I signed up for the training.
I'm an accountant and have a small tax practice in Hamilton, NJ.
Michelle, for a semester in college I interned with the DC public defender service. I really admire the work you do!
Stacey
Hi everyone 👋🏽
My name is Alejandro, and I’m really excited and grateful to be part of this cohort as the Teaching Assistant for this training.
I’m originally from Puerto Rico and currently based in Texas. I originally discovered yoga and meditation over 11yrs ago, and those practices became a huge part of my healing journey and reconnecting with myself.
Today, I work as a mindfulness and wellness coach, meditation teacher, trauma-informed yoga instructor, and peer mentor. I feel especially called to support incarcerated and formerly incarcerated communities, LGBTQIA+ communities, men navigating emotional healing, and people carrying generational or systemic trauma.
Really grateful to be here and looking forward to learning alongside all of you over the coming months!
Alejandro H.
Mindfulness & Meditation Coach
Podcast | InsightTimer | AuraHealth | Instagram | Blog
Hi everyone,
My name is Melissa and I am nervous and excited to be here. I have been practicing yoga for over 20 years and have really found it helpful in dealing with my own personal life experiences. I found this program through another lady at my local yoga studio and decided to give it a shot because I am interested in the trauma informed aspect of it.
I am a single mom to a 12 year old who is very supportive of me taking this course.
I have worked for a law enforcement agency here in Ontario, Canada since 2010. Currently I process Freedom of Information requests, including body worn camera requests, so I have seen and heard a lot. I have also worked within the Records department processing local police record checks. I have seen how the justice system works from the backend as well as personally, because I was a victim of a serious crime in 2022. The case went the trial in 2023 and the offender was found guilty. The experience changed me profoundly.
Ideally, I would like to help others to experience the benefits of yoga, especially those who may have never had the opportunity to try yoga. It really has changed how I live my life. I am trying my best to remain present, breathe and live day by day. This was literally how I saved my own life from destruction, through yoga. I believe it can help many others who have experienced trauma or circumstances outside of their control which have altered the course of their lives. It grounds me and I find the movement helps to calm my anxiety.
Looking forward to meeting you all!
Melissa 🙂