Transforming Space? Spatial Implications of Yoga in Prisons and Other Carceral Sites

Abstract

Yoga programs have taken root, and in some cases flourished, in carceral sites across the globe, yet few scholars have examined this phenomenon from critical theoretical and qualitative perspectives. The goals of this paper are to explicitly link scholarly discussions of yoga in prisons with theoretical developments in criminology, sociology, and human geography, and to use these diverse perspectives to develop a theoretical understanding of the possibilities and limits of yoga as a transformative spatial practice in carceral settings in and beyond the prison. Drawing on qualitative data collected on prison yoga, primarily in Canada, this paper considers three lines of theoretical inquiry: first, it examines yoga classes as an "institutional display" that facilitate social interaction between prisoners and community members, yet also serve administrative interests; second, it considers the possibilities for yoga spaces to enable forms of emotional expression that may not be permitted in other areas of the institution; and, third, it discusses the effects of carcerality on the practice of yoga beyond prisons. The paper draws heavily on the emergent field of carceral geography, as well as sociological and criminological research, to advance these arguments. In presenting these theoretical analyses, this paper advocates for a deeper theoretical exploration of the multiplicity of spatial meanings of yoga in carceral settings.

Vrij van binnenuit

“…Naast bovengenoemde uitdagingen binnen de implementatie van yoga in detentie, komen er vanuit huidig literatuuroverzicht en ervaring van eigen bodem de nodige methodologische kwesties naar voren, welke handvatten bieden voor toekomstig 47 Norman (2019). 48 Norman (2019). 49 Godrej (2022).…”

Carceral and military geographies: Prisons, the military and war

“…Jewkes and Moran, 2017), regime and practice (e.g. Norman, 2019), and the performance of particular identities (Moran et al, 2017). And, working at a broader scale, a large body of literature has considered how carceral spaces come to represent society’s wider views on crime and punishment (e.g.…”

The “Pains of Employment”? Connecting Air and Sound Quality to Correctional Officer Experiences of Health and Wellness in Prison Space

“…Moran, Turner, et al, 2016b), regime and practice (e.g. Norman, 2019), and identity (Moran et al, 2017). And, working at a broader scale, a large body of literature has considered how carceral spaces come to represent society's wider views on crime and punishment , which often enact everyday violence (Bonds, 2019; Story, 2019, among others).…”