The Prison Phoenix Trust

It is the prisoners who initially make contact with us, usually after hearing about us through the prison grapevine. In our response, through letters and free books, prisoners are encouraged to transform the negative situation they are in, into a positive one, turning their prison cells into places of retreat. Using silence, the breath and regular practice, people behind bars can gain insight into their true nature.

We send over 9000 quarterly newsletters to prisoners and members of the prison community and a separate quarterly is sent out to support prison yoga teachers.

Prisoners start to develop and deepen a sense of responsibility for past and present actions which helps them shed the offending behaviour patterns that led them into crime. Silence and the breath are time honoured means - known to all religions. A daily practice of yoga and meditation calls for self-discipline and concentration, skills that many prisoners say they are not used to and which they become heartened to discover in themselves.

© illustrations Korky Paul

Anyone joining prisoners in a meditation and yoga class might be surprised at their acceptance of this discipline. Even young offenders who may never have had a discipline before, respond to the chance to go within. Unlikely as it sounds, it is the chance to let go into silence which attracts and sustains them in the practice. They trust the inner process, something which is un-nameable, to work in its own appropriate way.

The Trust also trains qualified yoga teachers to prepare them to establish yoga and meditation classes within prisons. Most of them are paid for by prison budgets. We continue to act as a support base and sounding board for them in their work which can be inspiring, traumatic, lonely and rewarding in turns.

"I was depressed, stressed, fatigued, couldn't seem to relax, and hardly slept. Just kept on thinking and thinking. After starting yoga, I began feeling better within myself and slept for the first time in almost three months. In just over two months, my weight has dropped from 15 to 13 stone. Yoga is a great way to meditate and your books have been inspirational. "

... a prisoner in HMP Holloway

In 1996 we set up The Prison Phoenix Trust Scottish Link, and in 2003, The Prison Phoenix Trust Irish link to establish more yoga and meditation classes in those countries. Both our Scottish and Irish coordinators running the links are experienced prison yoga teachers. Both links are funded entirely through the generosity of local funders.