Prison Yoga Project Podcast Prison Yoga Poject

Have you wanted to learn about transformative programming around the world? Listen to this inspiring conversation, where we’ll journey alongside Gillian, a chaplain-in-training working in Ireland’s prison system. We dive into chaplaincy, yoga, and transitions as Gillian shares unique steps Ireland takes to support people transitioning back into society after incarceration. Discover how holistic practices positively impact lives, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
Gillian Hick, RYT 200, has been facilitating trauma-informed yoga in Co. Wicklow in Ireland since 2019, having attended the PYP training in London in 2018. She has been working as a veterinary surgeon for the past 25 years and is currently training to become a prison Chaplain.
Facilitator Form: 
https://prisonyoga.org/becoming-a-facilitator/
Foundational Training: 
https://community.prisonyoga.org/courses/incarceration-trauma-and-yoga/
Gillian Hick Bio:
Gillian Hick, RYT 200, has been facilitating trauma-informed yoga in Ireland since 2019, having attended the PYP training in London in 2018. She has been working as a veterinary surgeon for the past 25 years and is currently training to become a prison Chaplain.

In this episode, we explored powerful aspects of personal growth, healing, and emotional resilience, guided by Sunil Joseph. Drawing upon years of experience and the principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Sunil shared stories and insights that shed light on the transformative power of empathy and self-discovery.
As we delved into the transformative power of empathy and emotional connection, we uncovered how it bridged gaps and fosters a healing and growth-inducing environment. We explored the significance of creating brave, empathetic spaces for emotional expression, a practice that facilitated healing on both individual and collective levels.
Sunil is a certified GRIP facilitator actively involved in teaching a restorative justice-based healing and accountability program within California's prison system. He is also engaged in developing remote learning courses for incarcerated individuals through the Buddhist Prison Ministry. Sunil's journey has led him to instruct Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to diverse groups, including incarcerated people at San Quentin prison.
In 2021, Sunil achieved certification as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher after completing a comprehensive 2-year program led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Additionally, he holds the honor of graduating from BayNVC's 1-year NVC Leadership Program in 2008.
Sunil is actively dedicated to his own psychospiritual development as a student of the Ridhwan school for over 10 years. He deeply appreciates the wisdom shared by remarkable teachers and teachings, which have enriched his life in countless ways. Sunil wholeheartedly embraces opportunities to support others on their personal journey toward fulfillment and well-being.
Beautiful article about different types of service:
https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/HelpingFixingServing-by-Rachel-Remen.pdf

Generous Listening:
https://youtu.be/UdhP6sR5uvk?si=LZwX63JJkgRW2MXs

GRIP
https://grip-traininginstitute.org

My website: 
https://myempathycoach.com

Our guest Kenneth Hartman is an award-winning writer and prison reform activist who serves as the Director of Advocacy for The Transformative In-Prison Workgroup (TPW). TPW, or The Transformative In-Prison Workgroup, is a statewide coalition of over 50 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) dedicated to providing trauma-informed healing programs in California and New York prisons. Their mission is to ensure that all people living in prisons have access to meaningful, high quality programs, and to accelerate the impact of recent sentencing reforms towards their North Star goal of decarceration.
Sentenced to life without the possibility of parole at the young age of 19, Ken spent over 37 years behind bars before his release, thanks to the commutation of his sentence by former California Governor Brown. He was paroled on December 20, 2017 and remains free.
Ken is not only an inspiring figure but also an award-winning writer and a passionate prison reform activist. His essay ‘A Prisoner’s Purpose’ earned him one of the John Templeton Foundation’s prestigious 2004 Power of Purpose awards. His memoir, ‘Mother California: A Story of Redemption Behind Bars,’ received the coveted 2010 Eric Hoffer Award.
Through his writing, Ken has offered poignant insights into his experiences during three decades of prison Christmases and the lasting impact of intergenerational trauma within his family. Today, he continues his mission as an internationally accredited Life Coach and a dedicated Community Teaching Artist, providing support to reentry populations and adult learners.
Ken’s profound influence extends to his role as the Director of Advocacy, where he tirelessly works to transform the prison system through The Transformative In-Prison Workgroup (TPW) (www.thetpw.org). His relentless efforts have also played a pivotal role in raising over $7 million in funding for crucial community-based organizations since his parole in 2017.
Join us for an intimate conversation that promises to leave you profoundly moved and motivated to be a part of transformation.
This episode was hosted by Priscilla Castro, PYP's Program and Training Operation Manager. She is a facilitator in LA, offering a variety of programming in and out of prisons. She is a life long activist rooted in mutual aid.

ATTENTION! A MUST LISTEN EPISODE!
Join trauma-sensitive yoga practitioner and advocate Lara Land in an insightful webinar.
Discover how trauma can arise from a single event, the absence of childhood needs, contributing factors, racial-based trauma, and the challenges of recovering from continuous daily traumas. Explore the impact of trauma on the brain and body, and how the stress response can keep individuals in a heightened state of alertness even after the traumatic event has passed. Lara will address hypervigilance and its influence in the yoga space, providing insights into basic triggers that can occur and methods for repairing and creating a safe environment.
Lara Land is a deeply compassionate coach, consultant and yoga teacher trainer specializing in trauma sensitivity. Her work is in helping to heal trauma both subtle and significant and train others to do the same using yoga, meditation, mindfulness and breathing practices. Lara has spent the last 25 years studying and sharing yoga asana, chanting, meditation, and philosophy directly from her teachers in India. Her commitment is to honor the traditions of yoga by responding to the needs of each individual, using a unique combination of practices and techniques that are appropriate for their personal growth.
She is the author of The Essential Guide to Trauma Sensitive Yoga and the host of the Beyond Trauma Podcast.
Find more of her work at: https://threeandahalfacres.org/

In this inspiring and uplifting webinar we sit down with Campbell Lillard, a fitness and non-profit professional who has been informed by his lived experience of our justice system with the decade he spent at Texas State Prison. 
In this webinar, Campbell discusses his childhood, how he became incarcerated, and the importance of mentors and how they guide and shape our lives during every season of life. He shares stories of his own experiences with the power of mentors and how they supported his journey. We also hear success stories from the Deuce Community and the incredible impact they are having on the lives and well-being of system impacted people.
As is with live recorded events, there are a couple moments where the internet lagged or the audio cut out. Please forgive us!
Links
https://www.deucegym.com
https://deucecommunity.org

To request Deuce Programming or mentorship inside, please write to:
110 Lincoln Blvd
Venice, CA
90291

Prison Yoga Project
As always, you can apply this discount code to any of our trainings to receive 10% off: PYPPODCAST
Read more about our work at: www.prisonyoga.org

TW: Frankly, any conversation about Prison, Mass Incarceration, and most other topics we cover on the Prison Yoga Project Podcast come with a trigger warning. In this episode, Nechi shares stories of family abuse, early death, and other difficult topics. We feel it is our duty to share this information with you. Listen to this heart-breaking turned beautiful story when you feel resourced.
Embark on an extraordinary journey of resilience and personal transformation as we engage in a heartfelt conversation with Vanessa "Nechi" Gutierrez in this profound podcast episode. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Nechi faced unimaginable hardships during her formative years. Enduring a deeply abusive childhood and the devastating loss of her mother, she found herself trapped in a cycle of violence, yearning for a way to break free.
With immense courage and determination, Nechi made a life-changing decision to move to New York, armed with nothing but her unwavering spirit. Over the span of several decades, she dedicated herself to breaking the chains of violence that had haunted her family for generations. Inspired by her own personal journey and driven by a deep desire to create positive change, Nechi immersed herself in the world of trauma-informed yoga.
Today, Nechi's impact is felt across New York City as she compassionately facilitates trauma-informed yoga for system-impacted individuals and those with histories of trauma and violence. Through her work, she provides a safe and healing space for individuals to find solace, rediscover their inner strength, and transcend the pain of their past.
Join us as we listen to Nechi's remarkable story of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of yoga. Discover how one woman's journey from the depths of adversity has blossomed into a beacon of healing and inspiration for countless others.
Are you interested in facilitating yoga inside prisons, jails, and anywhere else people want trauma-informed yoga? Take our Foundational Training and fill out our Facilitator Application today.

Foundational Training: https://community.prisonyoga.org/courses/incarceration-trauma-and-yoga/
Discount: PYPPODCAST for 10% off when you purchase the training.
Becoming a Facilitator: https://prisonyoga.org/becoming-a-facilitator/