Trauma Informed Yoga 4 the Incarcerated

Yoga 4 Change is a non-profit organization that aims to achieve lasting, demonstrative change for veterans, individuals who are experiencing incarceration, youth, and people living with mental health conditions. Yoga 4 Change provides structure, empowerment, and results and is built on an established, purpose-driven curriculum that pairs yoga movements with thematic teachings tailored to the physical and emotional needs of each population we serve. 

For nearly 11 years Yoga 4 Change has offered trauma informed yoga in carceral facilities. Beginning in Duval county in the early years and expanding into Orange, Seminole and Hillsborough counties in 2021-2024. Most recently Y4C plans to expand programming with the Problem Solving Courts (Veteran Treatment Court, Drug Court, Mental Health Court) in Osceola county. 

We are an organization that believes in second chances and that people, especially those who have sustained significant trauma, are not defined by their mistakes.

Justice impacted individuals (incarcerated, on probation, or involved with Problem Solving courts) deserve the opportunity to make amends and it all starts on the mat. 

In Q3 (May-July) 2025, we taught 219 trauma informed yoga classes to 1,524 justice involvedindividuals across the state of Florida. The facilities we partner with to serve justice impacted individual include: jails, the court system, and correctional institutions. Our partners include the 4th Judicial Court System in Duval County, the 13th Judicial Court system in Hillsborough County, the 9th Judicial Court system in Osceola county, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility, and Orange County Sheriff’s Correctional Facility. 
 
Our Q3 impact report shows the data self-reported by participants, collected and evaluated, by the community served. Individuals experiencing incarceration reported a 20% increase in mood, 31% decrease in stress and 23% decrease in physical pain after one class. 
 
In addition to quantitative data, Yoga 4 Change also collects qualitative data. See below for quotes from our students in Q3:  

• "It helping with my lower back Pain! Praise GOD!"
• “It made me think about what I want to do with my life in a positive way” 
• “This class changed my energy for the better - I have more peace and freedom within.” 
•  “I look forward to yoga all week. I really enjoy working spine areas and I always feel better mentally and physically” 

• TEACHER SHARE - "After class, a gentleman came up to me and asked if I remembered him. When I asked his name, he shared his “street name,” and I realized I did remember him from the Pretrial Detention Facility. He told me that while he had dabbled in yoga before, I had inspired him to continue a regular practice. That evening, he attended class with his girlfriend.
  Moments like this remind me how rarely we get to witness the lasting impact of our work with students in corrections. That night, I was able to participate in the class theme which was gratitude and joy."

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