Project Mindful Movement (2013–Present)
Launched in December 2013, Project Mindful Movement was created to provide yoga and mindfulness practices to inmates at the Coconino County Detention Center (CCDC). Every week, we conduct mindfulness and yoga classes, offering coaching and support on critical topics such as triggers, addiction, resentment, stress, anger, and more. Our intention is to inspire positive change, cultivate emotional resilience, and foster personal growth.
With approximately 7.3 million adults (1 in 31) under correctional supervision in the U.S., and a re-incarceration rate of 60-70%, we understand the significant challenges faced by individuals in the justice system. At CCDC, nearly 11,000 people are booked annually—87% male and 13% female. Many inmates struggle with addiction, anxiety, stress, anger, PTSD, and have endured trauma, including abuse and violence.
Our mission is to have a lasting positive impact by enhancing critical thinking skills, reducing reactivity, fostering compassion, and improving health outcomes by reducing substance dependence. We provide education, practice, and coaching on mindfulness, asana (yoga), and pranayama (breathing techniques). Our approach is designed to be accessible to all levels of experience and is formatted in a way that can be integrated into daily life, both within the detention center and beyond.
Gratitude for Our Supporters
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following organizations for their generous support of Project Mindful Movement. Your commitment makes this work possible:
Project Peaceful Warrior (2015–2016)
In 2015, Project Peaceful Warrior brought yoga and mindfulness breathing practices to the Veterans and Military Affairs Department at Northern Arizona University (NAU). The classes were tailored to support relaxation, stress reduction, self-awareness, and addressing symptoms of PTSD.
Research shows that approximately 30% of individuals who have served in war zones experience PTSD, with an additional 20–25% having had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. Mindfully addressing trauma and stress through yogic techniques helps to counteract avoidance behaviors, which often lead to emotional detachment. Project Peaceful Warrior provided a safe space to reconnect with the body and work through difficult emotions, promoting healing and emotional resilience.
Project Wellbeing (2021)
In 2021, Project Wellbeing launched a series of free breathing exercises and mindfulness meditations via podcast to help reduce stress and improve the mental and physical health of frontline workers in our community. We are proud to have partnered with Northern Arizona Healthcare to offer these tools to their staff, providing them with ongoing support for stress management and overall wellbeing.
Through this initiative, we have helped frontline workers build resilience, improve mental clarity, and manage the overwhelming pressures of their daily work, particularly during the challenging times of the pandemic.
Launched in December 2013, Project Mindful Movement was created to provide yoga and mindfulness practices to inmates at the Coconino County Detention Center (CCDC). Every week, we conduct mindfulness and yoga classes, offering coaching and support on critical topics such as triggers, addiction, resentment, stress, anger, and more. Our intention is to inspire positive change, cultivate emotional resilience, and foster personal growth.
With approximately 7.3 million adults (1 in 31) under correctional supervision in the U.S., and a re-incarceration rate of 60-70%, we understand the significant challenges faced by individuals in the justice system. At CCDC, nearly 11,000 people are booked annually—87% male and 13% female. Many inmates struggle with addiction, anxiety, stress, anger, PTSD, and have endured trauma, including abuse and violence.
Our mission is to have a lasting positive impact by enhancing critical thinking skills, reducing reactivity, fostering compassion, and improving health outcomes by reducing substance dependence. We provide education, practice, and coaching on mindfulness, asana (yoga), and pranayama (breathing techniques). Our approach is designed to be accessible to all levels of experience and is formatted in a way that can be integrated into daily life, both within the detention center and beyond.
Gratitude for Our Supporters
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following organizations for their generous support of Project Mindful Movement. Your commitment makes this work possible:
- Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff
azfoundation.org/ways-to-give/give-locally/acf-of-flagstaff - Forest Highlands Foundation
fhgc.com/forest-highlands-foundation - Geile Charitable Fund
- GEO Fund
- Molly and Joseph Herman Foundation
Project Peaceful Warrior (2015–2016)
In 2015, Project Peaceful Warrior brought yoga and mindfulness breathing practices to the Veterans and Military Affairs Department at Northern Arizona University (NAU). The classes were tailored to support relaxation, stress reduction, self-awareness, and addressing symptoms of PTSD.
Research shows that approximately 30% of individuals who have served in war zones experience PTSD, with an additional 20–25% having had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. Mindfully addressing trauma and stress through yogic techniques helps to counteract avoidance behaviors, which often lead to emotional detachment. Project Peaceful Warrior provided a safe space to reconnect with the body and work through difficult emotions, promoting healing and emotional resilience.
Project Wellbeing (2021)
In 2021, Project Wellbeing launched a series of free breathing exercises and mindfulness meditations via podcast to help reduce stress and improve the mental and physical health of frontline workers in our community. We are proud to have partnered with Northern Arizona Healthcare to offer these tools to their staff, providing them with ongoing support for stress management and overall wellbeing.
Through this initiative, we have helped frontline workers build resilience, improve mental clarity, and manage the overwhelming pressures of their daily work, particularly during the challenging times of the pandemic.
