The Prison Yoga Project is now operating in three facilities across Texas: Santa Maria Hostel in Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Women’s Empowerment Center, and the John Creuzot Judicial Treatment Center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The program uses trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness practices to help incarcerated people process stress and trauma. Executive Director Nicole Hellthaler said they teach participants how to regulate their emotions and actions.

"We’re trying to help folks recognize those states of, when their body is in fight or flight, or when it is in rest and give them the tools so that they can more frequently be in a restful state," said Hellthaler, "as opposed to the state that trauma often leaves us in."

The global program operates in 28 states across the U.S. and in 15 countries – a total of 220 correctional facilities worldwide. It started at San Quentin Prison in 2002.

Hellthaler said prison conditions can lead to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She added that they sometimes see changes in participants after just a couple of sessions.

"Some come to class as a 10, they’re already really escalated," said Hellthaler. "Someone might be a 7, someone might be a 5. For some, the trauma that they’re experiencing might be just the fact that they’re incarcerated. Or somebody might come into the room with compounded trauma – childhood challenges."

More than 90% of incarcerated people will be released. Hellthaler says healing and self-rehabilitation will lead to safer, stronger communities.

"Over time, they start to realize the way that they are regaining control over their body and their emotions," said Hellthaler. "And [they are] able to access a state of feeling better. They can really start to see their life transform."

Source: Public News Service