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 over 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 Q4 (August-October) 2025, we taught 187 trauma informed yoga classes to 1,624 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 Q4 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, 34% decrease in stress and 24% 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 Q4:   

• "It gave me the opportunity to realize that it is okay to have faults and to forgive the human condition" 

• "Gave me the space and time connect with my inner self." 

• "The impact helps with the mind and body. I wouldn't change anything. The teacher is good at what he does and makes you feel like opening up to talk about things." 

• "Great class. Helped me to zone out from all the worldly stress that impact us all in and out of incarceration.
  
  
• TEACHER SHARE: “While teaching in the Seminole County Jail, I had a moment that really reminded me why this work matters. After class, an inmate in his 30s who has been attending regularly for the past few months walked up to me. He told me, “I might never see you again, but I want you to know how much of an impact you’ve had on my life. Yoga is giving me real independence and the ability to control my mind. I’m going to continue this journey.” He added that if we ever crossed paths again, he hoped it wouldn’t be inside those walls. I told him the next time I see him will be in a place of success, because I truly believe he’s headed there. With tears in his eyes, he gave me a fist bump and said this was the best program he had ever been part of.” 

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