Practice yoga in prison

Scientists have just taken yoga into prison to improve the mood and mental health of prisoners.

Most prisoners experience mental health problems many times higher than normal people. They often manifest as suffering, torment, and rebellious acts, alcohol or drug addiction.

Yoga and meditation have long been shown to play a role in reducing anxiety, depression and improving mood in many different areas. Recently, researchers at Oxford University conducted yoga experiments in Phoenix Trust prison.

A series of prisoners of different ages are recruited and attend the 10-day Yoga course every week for 90 minutes. This course is organized by Phoenix Trust prison.

Yoga practice helps prisoners improve mental health.(Artwork: Reuters)

Before and after yoga, all prisoners are required to complete psychological questionnaires to measure mood, stress levels, impulsiveness and mental health. In addition, a test computer used to measure the attentiveness and autonomy of participants is also used after the course.

The results showed that prisoners after undergoing yoga courses improved their mood, reduced stress and self-control compared to ordinary prisoners.

"We found that the group of inmates who practiced yoga had more positive moods, reduced stress and performed more accurately on a computer test. This proves that yoga is very useful for prisoners," he said . Dr. Amy Bilderbeck and Dr. Miguel Farias, head of research at Oxford University.

Dr Bilderbeck added: "We do not say that holding a weekly yoga session in the prison will suddenly turn the prison into a quiet and peaceful place, preventing all acts of rebellion. I don't say yoga will gradually replace mental health treatment in prisons, but that choice is relatively cheap, cost-effective and has many benefits for prisoners as well as improving mental health in jail".

Sam Settle, Phoenix Trust prison director, said: "Nearly half of the prisoners returned to prison within one year after having committed many criminal acts. So reducing the harm of prison life is necessary".

"Yoga and meditation help them feel better, make better decisions and develop the ability to think before acting; all of this leads to an active lifestyle, not to sin when they return to peace. enter the society, " Sam Settle said.