Welcome to Yoga, Social Justice, & Leaderships January 2025 Cohort!

Hello and Good Day I am Stanley King and I was inspired to join prison yoga because of the combination of yoga and access to under served populations. I am drawn to working with people who have obstacles to overcome in their lives and who might not have access to as many resource as I have. Yoga has helped me find value in myself and I would like to share this discovery with others who desire change in their ecosystem. Im in the north burbs of Chicago. I am a thespian working with a children's touring company currently performing Harriet Tubman Road to Freedom. I am the father of twin teenage boys. Yoga, pilates, the theater, and scuba diving are my social intimacy escapes. 

Hi All, I'm Frank Franz and I live in Northern Virginia. I was inspired to join PYP because I'd like to bring yoga to incarcerated youth in my area. I am a county juvenile court citizens advisory council member and a high school teacher. I feel that if incarcerated youth were exposed to yoga practices, they may find the element of hope that is so essential to change. I'm also inspired by one of my former students, Kathryn Gongaware, a PYP instructor in the Chicago area. 

Hi Stanley, I'm a former Chicagoland kid, growing up in Berwyn, but I left many years ago.

Hey all,

My name is Sarah. I am currently located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Truly what has inspired me is to connect with those who have lost hope and no longer see their value. When I read Ernest J. Gaines’ book ‘ A Lesson Before Dying’ its lesson never left me. Even though it was fiction it brought things inside of me to life.  It’s important to me to  share that no matter where we are in life and what we believe we can or cannot contribute we still have value, we are worthy. We shouldn’t be forgotten, even by ourselves.  I spent most of my childhood traumatized and my teen years in the justice system.  Taking care of my children allowed me to not concentrate on my own healing and when they grew up and started their own lives I was left with this emptiness because I  didn’t know who I was. I based my value on how much I did for others but, never took care of myself. It was difficult revisiting past events because I spent so long  with  a “fake it till you make it”  ideal about myself. I didn’t want to be found out, I had a imposter syndrome so I tried even harder.

Yoga found me through helping my son purse his acting career.  I’m not even sure why I started other than I  found a 30 day thing on YouTube. It was very beginner basic but, it was still hard. I look back and laugh now at how much my wrist hurt and how unenjoyable downward facing dog was. The challenge kept me going. I had no idea about yoga helping for stress or anything other than the moves looked hard and cool at the same time. Without knowing, yoga changed the way felt about myself and the expectations I had for myself and  even the way I thought and talked to myself. Staying in a balance pose gave me an extra boost of confidence that I took with me all day. I was so happy about my progress I stop noticing negative things. Sweat and tears from yoga, who knew?  So yoga for me is discovering yourself, building the confidence to love yourself where you’re at in the moment.  I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of PYP, a transformational life coach community lead by my late mentor’s son Brian Proctor, and having the opportunity to work with others on their parole board plans and reentry program steps.  I appreciate you all and can’t wait to get connect. 

Hi everyone,

My name is Andy and I am delighted to join you on this fabulous course. I live in Cornwall in the south west of the United Kingdom with my wife and 3 adult children who all live not far away. I am a counsellor in private practice since 2010 and prior to that a Police Officer since 1992, and before that in the army in South Africa. My life and work experiences so far have nurtured in me a ADHD-type justice sensitivity for difference, diversity, and equality and I feel this is driven as well by a spiritual sense of identity more than a name, height, or background. My Psychology degree has basically 'invited' me to admit some autistic traits which I use to my advantage. Ok I lie! I TRY to use to my advantage! I believe in karma, good deeds, love people's stories, and feel happiest when I see people do great things for themselves. I completed my first yoga course in 2018 but honestly feel inside that the more I think I know, the less I know. I feel that this course is my destiny and I cannot begin to explain how delighted I am to join you and hopefully contribute to healing in prison populations where honestly I'm sure on more than one occasion my life could have been very different. I'm also hoping to find myself a bit deeper because sometimes when the world is very busy and very noisy I get overwhelmed and want to find a mountain to get to the top of. With a cave! If anyone in prison feels like that I might be more blessed than I realise in thinking I could help. See you on Thursday!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Alejandro, and I’m joining you all from Texas. I’ve been passionate about mindfulness, meditation, and yoga for over a decade, and this work has profoundly shaped both my personal growth and professional journey as a wellness coach and meditation teacher.

Yoga saved my life. When I found the practice, I was at a crossroads—give up completely or accept my new reality. Giving up wasn’t in my nature, and I was too stubborn to quit. A friend, who happened to be a yoga instructor, invited me to join a session at some ungodly hour, like 4:30 AM. I had no idea what I was doing, but I did my best to follow along with the sun salutations. Then, something unexpected happened during savasana. In the stillness, for the first time in my 23 years of existence, stillness found me. I experienced peace and comfort in my own body... a feeling I had never known before. That moment marked the beginning of my healing journey.

I believe deeply in the power of this practice and the need for it not only in prisons but also for those reintegrating into society. I’ve seen how yoga and mindfulness can offer profound healing and help people rediscover a sense of wholeness and purpose, especially during life’s most challenging transitions.

What calls me to this training is a deep desire to integrate yoga into my mindfulness practice even further, expanding my ability to serve others authentically. I believe that this YTT is not only an opportunity to deepen my practice but also a chance to build meaningful connections with all of you, like-minded seekers on this shared path of growth.

Warmly,

Alejandro🙏🏽❤️

Hello Everyone!
I am so excited to be joining you from British Columbia, Canada. My journey to becoming a yoga teacher began 15 years ago when I was navigating a violent relationship, and I found solace and healing in yoga. I remember wanting to start yoga as a means of moving my body more and getting in tune with my feminine side, as the relationship I was in had me deeply connected to my masculine energy. In an effort to find balance, I lay on my mat one day at the end of class and sobbed. I will never forget this moment. So much suppressed emotion was released through the connection of breath and movement. There was a power that yoga gave back to me in that moment, and I have practiced ever since.

Fast forward to now: as a social worker and human rights advocate, I believe in the power of yoga as a healing modality that is often overlooked in Western medicine. I hope to bring intentional practice to the forefront of my teaching, so I can show others what yoga can do if we just remain still and shift our listening inward.

Although I will be tuning into the training mainly asynchronously, I hope to connect with like-minded yogis on this journey 🙂

Hello my name is Andrea, I live in San Francisco and am an amateur yogi and very new to all of this! My relationship to Yoga has always been very physical, I took a Yoga Barre 60 hour teaching program but didn't connect with it the way I thought I would. I have never connected with yoga through a healing aspect and want to learn more to eventually teach a mix of both. I am inspired by this organization and wanted to do my training here because I think this cause is super interesting, unique, and gratifying. I volunteered with a post release program in college and was exposed to many cases and today I work supporting immigrants at my day job that arrive to the US bounded by trauma and an array of limitations to move forward. This work is very inspirational and I am excited to observe and absorb information from everyone around me 🙂 I would also eventually love to be a PYP facilitator or get involved! 

Hi everyone, 

I'm Erin Brophy, I live in Calgary, Alberta. I'm a mother of two, a social worker, and for the last 10+ years I was a corrections officer in a young offender centre. I was inspired to take this training by a fabulous yogi, Kim, who facilitates PYP at the centre I currently work at. I recently transitioned to a clinical role, so my formal involvement in PYP was coming to an end. I felt this huge sense of loss; Kim had taught me so much about how movement, mindfulness, and yoga can engage clients who are difficult to reach. Kim encouraged me to pursue this training and I'm so grateful that she did! I'm so excited that I get to come on this journey with all of you and continue my involvement with prison yoga. 

I am called to this work because I was lost in my youth. I could have easily ended up incarcerated, and I feel very fortunate that I was able to build a life for myself and that I can be free, happy, and healthy. I feel fortunate that adults in my life, who had no obligation to me, took an interest in me, showed me that I can be successful, and helped me to unlock my potential. I am called to this work because I want to share the gift that I was given with others. Although it can be hard at times, I can honestly say that I love my job! I enjoy a high level of personal and professional satisfaction. I want to provide my clients with exceptional service and I know this program will help me to do that going forward.

Hola!

My name is Jasselle, and I live in Massachusetts. I’ve been practicing yoga for almost three years now, and it has truly transformed my life in so many ways. The physical, mental, and emotional benefits I’ve experienced through yoga have inspired me to share this practice with others.

That’s why I’ve decided to join this program and pursue my 200-hour yoga certification. My goal is to introduce yoga to communities, especially those who may not have had easy access to it. Yoga has been such a grounding force for me, and I want to dedicate my life to helping others experience the same positive changes.

I’m excited to learn and grow alongside all of you as we deepen our practice and expand our teaching skills. I’m looking forward to connecting with like-minded individuals and sharing this beautiful journey. 🪷🧘 

Hi all! My name is Kari and I live in the Philadelphia area. I've been practicing yoga for about 20 years and it has gotten me through more difficult times than I can count. I don't know who or where or if I'd be without it. There are so many reasons I chose this program and want to do this work and I don't know that I can fully express them all here. The core of it is I believe everyone should have access to peace and healing. I also believe the criminal justice system has failed our communities in countless ways, and this is just one way I can help correct that. I also really hope to serve those who suffer from drug and/or alcohol addition. I believe yoga can be an instrumental resource in one's rehabilitation journey.

I've had my eye on this program for years but kept making excuses about why it wasn't the right time. Then I lost my brother to an overdose in December of 2023 and it just sort of pushed me. He actually discovered yoga in the final months of his life and it brought him a lot of joy. One of our last conversations was about yoga. I am so glad he got to experience and appreciate the practice I have loved for so many years. His journey with addiction and also in and out of incarceration has really made me see how corrupt the whole system is. I want to do what little I can to bring resources to these populations that they so need and deserve.

I am really looking forward to meeting everyone and learning from all of your unique backgrounds!

Hello All! I'm Stevie and I'm based out of the Central Valley in California. I was initially drawn to yoga because I was recovering from a bad hiking accident and needed a new way to move my body. I was drawn to the larger practice over time because I was changed in ways that I didn't know I could. I became calmer, more open, in alignment with nature, and found a new love for myself and those around me. The practice gave me exploration and I have been committed to following that for many years now. This training will allow me to deepen my knowledge and learn the skills to share the glory of this work with my community. More than anything, I am excited to meet you all and am endlessly grateful that I get to share this experience with you all. 

Hi everyone! My name is Emma and I'm joining from Baltimore, MD. I work with folks who are incarcerated in ICE detention, and folks who are experiencing immigration proceedings while incarcerated in state/federal correctional facilities. I help them navigate through the immigration system, listening to their stories and helping them build their cases. I started practicing yoga as a way to process burn out, but it's grown into so much more than that. 

Over the past two and a half-ish years of consistent practice, yoga has helped me in so many ways. Yoga helps me take care of myself, which helps me be better at taking care of others. 

PYP blends two of my personal passions and interests - healing through yoga and helping those experiencing or affected by incarceration. I'm so excited to grow my own practice and build up the tools to share it with others. I'm so excited to get to know and learn from all of you!

Hi everyone, 

My name is Oana and I am joining from London, UK. I have been working in the prison system here in UK for the last 8 years and there has been a lot of learning along the way. I was fortunate enough to do an introduction to trauma informed yoga course last year with prison yoga project and I was so inspired by the teachers and the course itself. I decided to embark on this journey of self discovery and also to be able to share what I find with others and help them on the way. 

I am hoping that my experience working in the justice system will help me in this training and vice versa- the training will enhance me and my skills to help the people I work with.