Yoga helps inmates cope

I was SO happy to read this article the other day and I thought I'd share it. A project known as the Prison Yoga Project in the US has helped inmates keep fit and helped stop many of them from relapsing into crime.

Benefits of teaching Yoga as quoted from the article are

1. It's low in cost, hence implementing programmes isn't very difficult
2. Low-risk way for inmates to reflect on their crimes
3. Improves inmates fitness levels
4. Helps inmates cope with the stress of overcrowded prison life
5. Creates a sense of community as inmates come together for Yoga sessions
6. Helped them learn patience
7. A significant linear decrease has been found in inmates levels of anxiety and depression according to a 2010 paper in the journal Nursing Research)

There are currently at least 20 United States prisons which offer yoga through the Prison Yoga Project which began 12 years ago in California. The person who started this is James Fox. To date, he has DONATED 7000 copies of his manual to inmates to practise yoga on their own. (RESPECT)!