Webinar Archive:  Reentry Series

Webinar date:  November 9, 2015

 

Description

After practicing yoga for over a decade, Sue Julian and Barbara Steinke founded Laotong Yoga, Inc. in 2013.  Located in Charleston, WV, Laotong Yoga, Inc. is "dedicated to improving individual health and wellness through the inquiry of movement (yoga) and stillness (meditation) in ways that deepen inner connections to self, others, and the world."  In the first year of operation, Sue and Barbara started the Laotong Prison Project, bringing mindfulness practices into the only women's prison in West Virginia.  Since 2014, they have also been guiding classes at a maximum security prison for men.

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This webinar includes information about

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• the mission and work of the Laotong Prison Project

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• the process used in bringing yoga and meditation into WV state prisons;

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• elements of trauma-sensitive yoga;

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• similarities and differences between their work at the women's vs. the men's prison; and

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• lessons learned, including the connection between individual transformation and social change.

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About the Presenters

In 2013, Sue Julian and Barbara Steinke founded Laotong Yoga, Inc., located in Charleston, WV.  They are both certified yoga instructors.  Barbara is a registered Yoga Instructor and is certified in Shake Your Soul and Kirpalu YogaDance.  Sue is a Professional Level Kripalu Yoga Teacher and is certified in Kripalu YogaDance.  Barbara and Sue also completed the 40-Hour Certified Trauma Sensitive Yoga program . Both teach at The Folded Leaf yoga studio in Charleston, WV, and, since September 2013, Sue and Barbara guide yoga classes at West Virginia's only prison for women, Lakin Correctional Center in Mason County, and at the maximum security prison for men, Mt. Olive Correctional Complex in Fayette County.

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Before founding Laotong Yoga, Barbara was a federal court reporter in US District Court, Charleston, WV Division, and Sue was Team Coordinator of the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. They both held their positions for 30 years.

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Suggested Participants

Anyone currently teaching yoga or mindfulness based practices in a jail or prison setting as well as those planning to bring yoga or meditation into a jail or prison; those working with (or planning to work with) incarcerated and reentering women and/or victims of battering; activists and other practitioners who meditate or practice yoga; and fans of Sue Julian and Barbara Steinke!

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Note:  Due to technical difficulties the recording of this webinar does not include the PowerPoint presentation; it only includes the audio presentation.  We encourage you to get the PowerPoint (see link below) and follow along.  We think the transitions between the slides are pretty easy to figure out.

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Click here to access recording.  A copy of the PowerPoint (and any other documents from the webinar) is available by clicking here.