James Fox started the Prison Yoga Project while teaching yoga at San Quentin in 2002. Since then, his project has expanded to prisons nationwide. From their Facebook page:
"We believe in restorative justice. Prison Yoga Project provides a cost-effective method of improving prisoner health and behavior. We believe in addressing the damage done and providing tools for self-rehabilitation. We've helped hundreds of prisoners by instilling self-control and fostering accountability. While they're "doing the time," we focus on violence prevention, impulse control, mood disorders, depression, despair, addiction, and PTSD."
There are many letters and testimonials from inmates that display their appreciation for the PYP and the ways they believe it has improved their lives. See them here: www.prisonyoga.org
Here is a link to a recent interview with one of the PYP yoga instructors: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-schware/yoga-prisons_b_3051948.html
What do you think about this project? Is it beneficial? Not so much? Share your thoughts here. -------------------------------------------
Erin Costino
University of California, Irvine
San Diego, CA
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