The Prison Phoenix Trust

© illustrations Korky Paul

The Prison Phoenix Trust encourages prisoners in the development of their spiritual welfare, through the practices of meditation and yoga, working with silence and the breath.

We offer personal support to prisoners around the UK and Eire through teaching, workshops, correspondence, books and newsletters - and to prison staff too. We work with people of any faith, or of none, and honour all religions. We are a registered UK charity.

"Since an early age, I never knew how to deal with all my trapped emotions or how to recognise them. Just sitting still and looking inside has transformed my whole Being. Once I gained some freedom with meditation, I was able to write to my wife, the first contact I had had in more than a year"

Health Day at the Prison Service Training College

On December 2, Sam and Jo gave two workshops for prison staff attending the College (in Newbold Revell, near Rugby) as part of our continuing effort to support prison officers in their work.

New yoga classes

Yoga classes starting or started up recently:
Hull: starting in August, two weekly classes, one for main prisoners, one for vulnerable prisoners.
Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight: two classes have been running since October, one for prisoners with mental health problems, and another in the health wing, which is attended by prisnoers from all three prisons on the island.
Maidstone: beginning November, one class for staff, one for inmates.
Blantyre House: inmates about to be released are now receiving a yoga class (starting November).
Leeds: two new classes, one for inmates over 45, and another for staff.

May Retreat for yoga teachers

A meditation retreat is being held at Samye Ling monastery, in Scotland, for active prison yoga teachers. Dates are 15-17 May 2009. Contact Sam or Kate in the PPT office for more details.

Spring yoga teachers' workshop

The next yoga teachers' workshop takes place on Saturday 18 April 2009. The venue is yet to be announced. Contact Sam or Kate for more information.

Morton Hall workshop

Morton Hall open women's prison is receiving us on December 5th, to run workshops for staff and inmates.

Yoga Without Words being sent out

Yoga Without Words, our popular new book, has been sent to all Heads of Education in prisons. We're hoping for more orders.

Prison Officers' Learning Conference

Sandy and Jo felt very welcome at the Conference (in Brigg, Lincs) in early November. As well as leading several workshops, they had the chance to talk informally to prison officers, and to learn more about their working lives.

Yoga Aid and the Yoga Show

The Yoga Show was very successful for the PPT. Our thanks to Tuesday McNeill, and to everybody who stopped by the stand to chat and take a way a publication or two..

Yoga Aid was also good for us, raising almost £3000. Well done all, and thank you so much! You can still sponsor somebody who did it, by visiting the JustGiving page.