GET INVOLVED
DO YOGA WITH US!
While we offer yoga classes for folks in incarceration facilities, we are also expanding our yoga offerings in the Madison community.
We are currently offering yoga to parenting class participants at the Urban League center at 1233 McKenna Blvd. every Thursday from 1pm - 1:45pm.
For more information contact Dwayne McMillen (dmcmillen@ulgm.org)
FACILITATE YOGA WITH US!
We are always in need of great yoga facilitators and offer a range of opportunities to facilitate yoga in incarceration facilities with adults and/or youth and in the Madison community.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To facilitate yoga with us, you must meet the following requirements:
Have completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training from an accredited yoga school; be prepared to provide proof of certification. If you haven’t completed a training yet, check out PYP’s Yoga, Social Justice, and Leadership: a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Certification Training.
Have personal liability insurance to ensure protection against participant injury or other harm; be prepared to provide proof of insurance. For information and guidance on this, feel free to contact us.
To be a lead facilitator, you must have facilitated yoga consistently for at least 1 year. If you have just completed your teacher training and would still like to be involved, we offer opportunities to shadow and team teach with more experienced facilitators until you are ready to lead sessions.
If you are interested in teaching in incarceration facilities, you must: 1) contact us first; 2) apply to be a PYP facilitator; and 3) complete PYP’s 34-hour Foundational Training. We can support you to complete this training for free, at a fee reduction, or possibly waive the training if you can demonstrate previous commensurate training & experience. Finally, you must complete an incarceration facility clearance application and successfully meet all facility clearance requirements.
If you would specifically like to work with youth, we prefer individuals to have had some experience working with youth in yoga, education, social work, community-based, or other related contexts. You may need to meet specific youth incarceration facility requirements.
CURRENT FACILITATION OPPORTUNITIES
Men’s 6-Week Sessions at the Dane County Jail
We regularly facilitate 6-week sessions to groups of 10-15 male residents of the Dane County Jail (near downtown Madison). We use a 6-week curriculum to introduce participants to basic asanas, breath work, and meditations. These classes are from 3:15pm - 4:15pm every Sunday. For more information contact Jo Temte (jotemte@mac.com).
Men’s Parenting Group at the Dane County Jail
We regularly facilitate yoga sessions to groups of 10-20 male residents of the Dane County Jail (near downtown Madison) who are present members or alumni of the parenting class there. As these sessions are ongoing, asanas, breath work, and meditations are up to the facilitator. These classes are from 3:30pm - 4:30pm every Wednesday. For more information contact Jo Temte (jotemte@mac.com).
Yoga with the Urban Leage
We are currently offering yoga for parenting class participants at the Urban League center at 1233 McKenna Blvd. every Tuesday from 1:-00pm - 2:00pm. We run these classes in 6-week shifts and draw from a 6-week curriculum to introduce participants to basic asanas, breah work, and meditations. For more information, contact Kelsey Dalrymple (kelsey.a.dalrymple@gmail.com).
Yoga at the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center
We regularly facilitate sessions to groups of 2-10 male and female residents (ages 10-17 years) of the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center (near downtown Madison). As these sessions are ongoing, asanas, breath work, and age appropriate guided meditations are up to the facilitator. Playful movement, games, and discussions are included in these sessions. They are from 1:00pm-1:45pm every Wednesday. For more information contact Jo Temte (jotemte@mac.com).
Women’s Sessions at the Dane County Jail
We regularly facilitate yoga sessions to female residents of the Dane County Jail (near downtown Madison). As these sessions are ongoing, asanas, breath work, and meditations are up to the facilitators. These classes are from 10:00am - 11:00am every Saturday. For more information contact Frances Colbert (francescolbert@gmail.com).
Men’s Oakhill Prison Yoga
We regularly facilitate sessions to groups of 10-15 male residents of the Oakhill Prison (near Oregon, WI). As these sessions are ongoing, asanas, breath work, and meditations are up to the facilitators. These classes are from 6:15pm - 7:15pm every Tuesday and Thursday. For more information contact Jo Temte (jotemte@mac.com).
Treatment-Related Yoga
We are exploring setting up regular yoga classes as part of substance abuse and mental health treatment in partnership with Tellurian and ARC. If you are a trained yoga therapist with experience in these areas and/or are interested in supporting this work, contact Alisa Magennis (alisa@sukhasomatics.com).
Yoga with Grow Academy
We facilitate yoga for groups of up to 6 male residents (ages 13-17 years) of the Grow Academy (near Oregon, WI). Since these sessions are ongoing, asanas, breath work, and age appropriate guided meditations are up to the facilitator. Playful movement, games, and discussions are included in these sessions. They are offered 3 evenings weekly through Main Street Yoga & Wellness-Oregon. For more information contact Jo Temte (jotemte@mac.com).
PARTNER WITH US!
Do you work for an organization, community-based group, agency, or housing facility that is interested in hosting yoga for your staff, residents, and/or program participants?
Do you work with justice-impacted communities and have ideas for how we can collaborate?
Are you an incarceration facility in Wisconsin that wants to bring yoga to your residents?
Do you offer re-entry services and/or run a re-entry fair?
SUPPORT US!
HOST A FUNDRAISER
We are always looking for businesses and organizations to host a fundraiser on behalf of both RAY and PYP! These can take the form of a raffle, a donation-based yoga class, an auction, a dinner, or any other ideas you might have!
SPONSOR US
If you’re interested in providing financial or material support towards something specific, let us know and we can discuss how this can be mutually beneficial for you and us!
ADVOCATE FOR CRIMINAL JUSICE REFORM
In line with PYP, part of our mission is to work towards a cultural shift in addressing crime, substance abuse, and mental health. We believe in people-centered, dignity-focused, & community-based approaches to counteract the systemically violent, inhumane, and discriminatory practices of the current criminal justice system. If you also care deeply about these issues, get active!
- Call your elected officials
- Organize your own reform campaigns
- Support legislation & encourage voter turn out
- Attend town halls and community forums
- Get involved with other advocacy groups like The Sentencing Project, the Vera Institute, and The Prison Policy Initiative.
VOLUNTEER WITH US
If you’re interested in facilitating yoga with us, check out the information above. If you’re interested in volunteering with us in any other capacity, let us know. We are always looking for talented and passionate individuals to share their time, skills, & experience! This includes support with:
- website maintenance & social media
- finance management, fundraising, & grant support
- volunteer recruitment & coordination
- advocacy activities
- organizational management
- research & evidence
- printing and/or other services
- and more!