Valley State Prison opens staff wellness rooms

January 7, 2025

One of two new staff wellness rooms at Valley State Prison.

Valley State Prison in Chowchilla recently celebrated the opening of two staff wellness rooms. The prison also offers chair yoga, meditation, and reiki classes.

The two rooms were transformed into places of relaxation and serenity thanks to the hard work of a team of professionals.

Planning was handled by:

Alverta Bayliss, Health Program Manager III
Dr. Alicia Garcia-Cisneros, Chief Nursing Executive
Elaine Cantu, Chief Support Executive
and Associate Warden Cecilia Adams

“Through team collaboration and alignment to the fundamentals of the California Model, the institution is committed to improve working conditions for all employees at Valley State Prison,” said Dr. Garcia-Cisneros. “We believe there is a direct correlation between staff mental wellness and optimal workplace environments and relationships.”

Wellness rooms’ health benefits include:

massage chairs
aromatherapy to calm the senses
white noise therapy to calm the auditory senses
light therapy for calming visuals
reading for words of affirmation
miniature waterfall
micro-meditation for deep breathing exercises
yoga mats and meditation pillows.

The new space promotes overall health by encouraging breaks, which are vital for reducing the risk of burn out. The wellness rooms demonstrate Valley State Prison’s commitment to the holistic and mental wellbeing of our employees addressing the mental, emotional and physical demands of their unique and often high-pressure roles.

Valley State Prison promotes staff wellness, healthy activities

Five people at Valley State Prison in a new staff wellness room. — Some of those behind the effort to create two new staff wellness rooms at Valley State Prison.

Valley State Prison also offers chair yoga, meditation and reiki to all classifications of staff in the in-service training classrooms.

Niha Duggal, licensed psychologist, instructs the class on a weekly basis. Duggal described the chair yoga and meditation as a more subtle and easier way of stretching for staff who sit in front of a computer much of their day.

Duggal uses techniques during the meditation portion of the class to bring balance in individual lives by focusing on gratitude, body scan and visualization.

The overall goal of the classes is to provide a safe, nonjudgmental environment and encourage staff to be present in the moment.

Submitted by Lt. Adrian Salas