Shirley Hicks is facilitating the Saturday Trauma Sensitive Yoga Training. Shirley is a practising somatic psychotherapist and yoga teacher, with a private clinic based in the Gold Coast Hinterland at Mudgeeraba. Shirley has a real interest in how the body carries unresolved life events and how through “talk therapies” the body is often missed. With over 18 years clinical experience she has refined the way in which she supports clients to involve their body in the healing process, drawing on the work of Judith Herman, Babette Rothschild, Peter Levine and Bessel van der Kolk as well as the detraum work arising out of Dru UK in Wales.
Chris has 18 years of experience working in a variety of Correctional settings. Beginning work with NZ Corrections as a Clinical Psychologist he has worked in prisoner rehabilitation and health management, operational management and as a policy advisor and senior business analyst in Corrections Head Office. In recent years Chris has been a technical advisor in Vanuatu, assisting in the establishment and development of a Correctional Service and Parole Board. Having returned to New Zealand in early 2015 he is currently working as a Clinical Psychologist based in Queenstown. He has an interest in the contradictions, complexity and conundrums in Corrections. His psychological orientation is towards Mindfulness based CBT and Positive Psychology with a healthy dose of ‘whatever it takes’ to support the wellbeing of his clients.
John Sinclair has worked for many years in central government and management consulting before training as a yoga teacher. He teaches at both Mt Eden and Auckland South (Kohuora) Correctional Facilities, as well as at Hot Yoga in Newmarket. He is also volunteer coordinator for the Howard League for Penal Reform at both of these prisons, facilitating literacy, thinking skills and other volunteer-led educational programmes. John will be facilitating a session ‘Working with prison management’ : Understanding what drives prison managers: a chakra-based approach(!). Prison culture, multiple agendas, and where we fit in (or don’t). Evaluation, feedback and dialogue: Creating and maintaining a mandate for prison yoga
Jane Allan (Gyananidhi) has been teaching yoga for many years in prisons and with support groups for specific health conditions. She is passionate about passing on practical yogic tools to enhance health and wellbeing. Jane is also an accredited ISBT-Bowen Therapist and will be facilitating a session on “Teaching Asana,Pranayama and Meditation/Relaxation to prisoners, what, how and why?” After years of experience teaching in Christchurch mens prison Jane will be sharing stories of what’s worked for her and whats not worked.
Te Maari Gardiner-Ngata will be facilitating a session on ‘The Importance of Maori Tikanga in our prisons’. As half the prison population is Maori or Polynesian it is important for teachers to understand Maori protocol. Te Maari will elucidate on the parallels of the Maori belief system in regards to the elements, spirituality, Chakras, and Prana (Mauri or Wairua). Mihi (personal introduction) will be explained and offered for those teachers working in Maori focus Units.
Adhyatma is the founder of YEPT and is your host for the weekend. With over 8 years experience working in 3 of NZ’s medium and maximum security prisons she has a journey to share. Adhyatma will be supporting the discussions throughout the weekend and will be offering valuable tips and techniques on ‘Self Care to prevent burn out’.
