We are built on a foundation of volunteerism, generosity, and service. A generous and engaged community is the heart and soul of Yoga Behind Bars. Whether you are a yoga teacher, interested in criminal justice reform, or simply curious about our work, you can help fuel our innovative programs!

Info Sessions

ONLINE INFO SESSION
Curious about our work, why and how we do it, and how you can be part of it? Check out our online Info Session here.

IN-PERSON INFO SESSION
Do you want us to speak about Yoga Behind Bars at your yoga studio, organization, business, or place of worship? Please reach out to Jess, our Programs Director.

Study with YBB Online

Our online trauma-informed yoga training gives you practical tools to make a difference in your community. Whether you practice yoga or are a yoga instructor, clinician, mental health professional, educator—we’ve got you covered. Learn more.

In Person Trauma-Informed Yoga Trainings

Our 3-day Trauma-Informed Yoga training is open to anyone interested in or currently working with trauma and vulnerable populations. Participants include social workers, yoga practitioners and teachers, health care professionals, and educators. We offer a unique and practical roadmap for leveraging the power of yoga for increased well-being, trauma recovery, and lasting social change. See below for upcoming trainings and what to expect.

Interested in starting or enriching your own program? Please contact Jess if you’d like to host our training in your community.

Click here to see our training dates.

It truly takes a village to make our work possible. We are always looking for people with various backgrounds, talents, and skill levels to support us both behind bars, behind desks, and in the community. Want to learn more about YBB and how you can help? Please contact info@yogabehindbars.org and check out our online info session at the top of this page!

Be an Ambassador

Our Ambassador program is currently on pause. Check back in the future for more opportunities.

Learn How to Teach Trauma Informed Yoga

When you teach for Yoga Behind Bars, you build a bridge between two worlds. It is an experience that will change your life and the lives of your students. Offering yoga in a prison environment is undeniably challenging and also incredibly rewarding. Because of this, we encourage applicants who have a strong sense of commitment, skill, and capacity for compassion.  Check out our FAQ.

Steps to becoming a YBB instructor

1. Sign up for our Trauma-Informed Yoga Training. To be a lead teacher with us we require that you complete a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training or equivalent experience. We also have openings for classroom assistants for which a 200-hour certification is not necessary.
2. Participate in an interview with YBB programs staff.  Demonstrate an awareness of social justice principles, that you are actively embodying those principles in your life, are open to learning and feedback, and are knowledgeable and skilled at yoga instruction. If you are a newer instructor or have not completed a yoga teacher training, there may be opportunities to serve as a class assistant.
3. YBB will determine if you are a good fit for volunteering based on your skills, experience, values, and availability.
4. Joining the YBB teacher team can take time. Prisons and jails often have lengthy application processing times and we have to work with the schedule restrictions placed on us.
5. After your paperwork is processed and cleared by a facility (yay!), we offer extensive mentoring and all active instructors have access to free continuing education workshops throughout the year.

We also support people outside of Washington State who are interested in starting or enriching their own programs. Please contact Jess if you’d like to host our training in your community.