Bowing, my name is Daniel (he/him). I am joining from Chicago, IL.
I had the honor and grace of hearing about PYP from a podcast with James Fox. Since first hearing about the project I had to dive deeper. The mission and scope of the seva of the project is incredible. It is my intention to share yoga/trauma informed yoga with others.
The practice of ashtanga yoga and Vajrayana meditation have both had a significant impact on my life. It would be an honor to share yoga and mindfulness with people.
Neem Karoli Baba said, “ love everyone, serve everyone and remember god.” I try to hold that I my heart along with many of the teachings from Shantideva…
“May I become at all times, both now and forever, A protector protector for those without protection, protection, A guide for those who have lost their way, A ship for those with oceans to cross, A sanctuary sanctuary for those in danger, A lamp for those in the dark, And a servant to all those in need.”
Hello everyone ❤️
My name is O'Dette (she/her) I'm joining from Las Cruces, New Mexico. I'm a homeschooling Mom and I'm in my 7th year as a 200hr yoga teacher.
For the last 4 years, I've taught yoga at an in-patient addiction recovery center. This work has informed my desire to deepen my understanding of and commitment to trauma informed somatic movement facilitation. It's been an important aspect of my teaching practice to bring yoga into non-traditional spaces, so the prison yoga program felt like a very logical next step for me.
I'm deeply inspired by the range of interests, industry and specialized skills I see represented by this cohort, and I look forward to connecting further through this experience.
Hello, friends! I'm Kate (she/her) and I am joining from the stolen and unceded land of the Tongva people, colonized as Long Beach, California. I am the Executive Director of a legal aid program serving Orange and Los Angeles counties. Yoga has been a game-changer for me - helping me heal from my own personal trauma and also deal with the vicarious trauma that comes with my work. I was called to this training after starting another 200 hour where the lead teacher said in one of the first sessions that "yoga is not about political activism or social justice". I quit on the spot and started looking for a training that aligned with my personal beliefs and values.
Hello, all. My name is Courtney (she/her) and I am joining our PYP community from a small rural town in Northern California. Grief, grit, and growth brought me here. Looking forward to the journey together.
Hey all,
Cassandra (she/her) practicing with you all from the stolen lands of the Lenape, Oneida, Ottawa, and Wyandot peoples. Now known as Cleveland, Ohio. I'm currently a yoga teacher at a studio and the Juvenile Detention Center just 10 minutes from where I reside. I'm a mama to three and also serve my community through birth work. My brain is finally ready to engage in some deep learning, the last training I took (Movement for Trauma) has informed so much, personally and collectively. Really looking forward to connecting with you all and weaving in what I learn as offerings to those I serve. And I found PYP through a comrade that takes some of my classes, what a gift!
Hello! My name is Hannah Moore (she/her), and I live in Providence, RI.
After being in government policymaking in housing, homelessness, and economic development for 15 years, I recently began a master’s program studying social work. My hope is to offer mindfulness and other embodied practices as part of changemaking efforts, activism, and group trauma healing.
In this moment of transition, I’ve also been listening for ways I could be more of service. After I learned about Prison Yoga Project at the Boston Int'l Trauma Conference in May, I’ve felt called to pursue this opportunity. I have a lot of interest in working with people who are incarcerated, informed by family experiences in the justice system and as an indirect victim of violent crime. But I’m also curious about using this work to support those experiencing homelessness and the broader network of people working to change our systems.
I’m looking forward to learning from all of you!
Hannah
Hello Friends!
My name is Nancy(she/her) and I am joining from the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon. I have been called to this training to serve people who are involved with the justice and mental health system. I have been a teacher and academic advisor for youth who are in detention as well as in long term care and metal health treatment facilities. I am grateful to be here in this space with you all.
Hello everyone!
I am known as Kurt Armstrong. My pronouns are he/him.
I am joining y’all from Southern Oregon. I have lived here for about 19 years now. Previously lived in Southern California for 5 years for skateboarding and before that, grew up in South New Jersey in a town called Collingswood, very close to Philadelphia.
I have been on the path to becoming a yoga instructor since I completed a 300 day sentence in the jail where I was leading nightly yoga for the inmates in the work center which is where I ended up being housed after completing a 50 page thesis to earn a Masters Degree in Fine Art in requested isolation to complete graduate school. I use photography and words to help change perspectives and bring people back down to a pure state of being free from all built up perspectives we gain as we navigate life. I am very open with my own journey and the darkness I had to go through to be shown the Light and now all I want to do is help people through a selfless life of service to others.
After using my last $15 on a credit card to send a book from the PYP to a friend who was locked up, I began a conversation telling PYP about my desire to teach yoga but because of financial troubles, did not think it was accessible. They informed me about scholarship opportunities so I waited patiently until they opened them and applied right away. And now, here I am !
Many blessings to you all. Om Shanti.
I love you!