Prison Yoga Project Podcast

We're throwing it back today to June 2021 because this episode needs to be heard. In this episode, you will witness moving stories about the life and work of Retired Judge Victor Reyes, a Prison Yoga Project facilitator. Retired Judge Victor Reyes spent most of his legal career working in the Colorado Criminal Justice System, first as a public defender and then 15 years as a judge for the 10th Jud...

Title: Youth, Addiction, and Cultivating Emotional Safety Featured Guest: Dr. Sam Himelstein Host: Blaire Embrey Recorded on: 1/13/2023 In this first episode of our 2023 season, Dr. Sam Himelstein starts by sharing his mindfulness journey, being incarcerated on and off as a youth, and the root of addiction. From here, we flow into a potent conversation, sharing the impact of working at the local l...

Susan Shannon, the Buddhist Chaplin practicing on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison, joins us to share stories of devotion and dedication from her long-time students and Sangha on death row. We will be learning practices for energetic protection, becoming aware of intergenerational trauma, and practicing boundaries while still meeting individual and collective needs. We are honored to witness...

The Leap of Beginning with Kristin Varner Featured Guest Kristin Varner Host Blaire Embrey Recorded on 9/24/21 In this episode, we speak with Kristin Varner, yoga facilitator and lawyer, about the unpredictability of facilitating in a post-pandemic world and how our personal practice supports all aspects of our lives and facilitation. If you’re looking to become a facilitator or offer programming...

Collective liberation is at the heart of Michelle Cassandra Johnson’s work and our work at Prison Yoga Project. We explore what it means to be a leader as facilitators of yoga, living by moral codes offered to us through the yamas and niyamas and leaning into truth and discomfort while allowing resistance and love to be our teachers. Please join us as we host this incredible guest! Michelle C...