Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training: Impact on Incarcerated Men's Wellness.

Abstract

In late 2021, the United States had a total of 1.2 million individuals confined in state and federal prisons, with approximately 1.1 million of these people being men. Although existing research provides evidence that engaging in yoga programs within prison settings can enhance the well-being of incarcerated individuals, with several studies supporting this claim, knowledge regarding the specific effects of participating in a yoga teacher training program during confinement is still lacking. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of completing a prison-based 200-hour trauma-sensitive yoga teacher training program on the perceived physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellness of men in prison. We hypothesized that men who successfully completed the training program would report notable improvements in all four dimensions of wellness. Focus groups, participant workbook reviews, and demographic surveys were used to understand how participation in yoga teacher training influenced men's perceived wellness. Participants identified a variety of wellness gains associated with yoga teacher training. These gains have the potential to contribute to improved individual health, improved relationships with others, and safer communities.