S2 E5 Beyond the Walls: The Stories of Yoga, Incarceration, and the Human Spirit

What happens when yoga and meditation enter a place many of us will never know? In this special episode of The Inner Practice , host Jackie Vandertuin introduces a powerful three-part series exploring yoga, meditation, incarceration, and the transformative potential of human connection. Jackie shares her personal journey into trauma-informed yoga through the Prison Yoga Project and reflects on how this experience challenged her assumptions about incarceration, deepened her understanding of trauma, and reminded her of the importance of seeing the person beyond the label. Over the coming episodes, you'll meet James Lesly, who spent eight years incarcerated in a maximum-security facility; dedicated volunteers from Freeing the Human Spirit, who share their experiences teaching yoga in prisons and the reciprocal nature of healing; and Fi Grossi, who recounts her extraordinary experience of spending a year in a Cuban prison during COVID and how breath helped her survive. Along the way, we'll explore the role of yoga in supporting awareness and connection, the impact of trauma and life circumstances, and the profound lessons that can emerge when we meet one another with curiosity rather than judgment. As one prisoner shared with yoga teacher Trish, “Miss, that's the first time I forgot I was in here.” These conversations remind us that healing can happen in unexpected places, that compassion and accountability can coexist, and that there is always more to a person than the story we see from the outside. Join Jackie on this journey of listening, learning, and looking beyond the walls that separate us. May these stories leave us a little softer, a little kinder, and more willing to recognize our shared humanity. 🎧 Listen to The Inner Practice , a podcast exploring stories of healing, awakening, and becoming. Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you enjoyed this show, make sure you like, subscribe, follow and download the episode or simply leave a comment. I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to share your thoughts, episode ideas or simply to say "hello"! This episode is sponsored by Jackie Vandertuin Therapy. With over 30 years of practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist and professor of Athletic Therapy, coupled with her experience as a yoga therapist, Jackie Vandertuin MSc, CAT(C), will help guide you in the management and treatment of various disorders including: low back pain, sprains, strains, anxiety and depression. Reach out www.jackievandertuintherapy.com for a free discovery call. If would like to be a guest of this podcast, please reach out to jackie@jackievandertuintherapy with a short bio of your story and how yoga has helped you in your journey of healing. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or this podcast, reach out to Jackie Vandertuin at jackie@jackievandertuintherapy.com. Stay in touch at: Website: https://www.jackievandertuintherapy.com Instagram: jackie_vandertuin_therapy Facebook: Jackie Vandertuin Therapy To support the show, feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/theinnerpractice