How Women in prison can attain peace through yoga
How Women in prison can attain peace through yoga by ShareLove.Fund’s Social Enterprise Endeavor.
Yoga as a form of exercise is often considered meditative. It is effective for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and for gaining mindfulness. There has been sufficient research about the effects of yoga on the psychological well-being of women in prison. Residents of correctional homes are often victims of trauma or admitted for rehabilitation from substance abuse. Instead of isolating the women prison inmates’ organizations need to step up and discover ways in which they can be supported.
Yoga as a therapeutic technique is beneficial for women prison inmates to reconnect with their minds and body to recover from traumatic incidents or issues related to substances. A study published in the International Journal of Yoga Therapy reveals that numerous women have experienced physical or sexual abuse and emotional abuse in their lives before prison.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321041453_Psychological_Benefits_of_Yoga_for_Female_Inmates
Hence, it becomes essential for women to harbour peace within themselves during the period of recovery. The path of yoga guides women by providing a recourse towards the self and the body.
In this article, we shall observe ways yoga benefits women prison inmates psychologically to attain tranquillity.
How yoga helps female prison inmates towards self-awareness and peace
Psychological well-being– several prison inmates show signs of depression and violent behaviour resulting from traumatic experiences yoga is offered as a complementary method of recovery. It helps individuals to overcome anxiety, depression, and aggressive behavior. An Oxford University study has revealed the benefits of yoga on the psychological well-being of prisoners.
Trauma-informed teaching –A well-informed institute or organization provides support through well-researched techniques. The Prison Yoga Project provides trauma-informed yoga sessions to inmates for their recovery. Reduction of stress is a focal area upon which the project emphasizes. The two modes of assessment are stress scales and Questionnaires which, enable organizers to track the scale of improvement in the inmates.
Hatha Yoga for impulse control – This form of yoga focuses on the physical postures and impacts the body and the mind. It helps calm the mind. Study reports show that this type of yoga has been effective for controlling impulses, reducing anxiety, stress, and depression.
Mental flexibility -past experiences may result in increased aggressive behaviour and inability to gain composure over one's mind. Yoga enables women prison inmates to converge all their energies inwards and work towards a greater self-awareness equipping them with control over their mental well-being. It becomes imperative for women inmates to be trained towards self-control through an inward assessment.
Yoga has the power of transforming an individual to reconnect with her mind and body. Women prison inmates are separated from their homes for long durations. In the absence of their family, it becomes integral to maintain their health and peace of mind. Yoga can help women attain tranquillity only through disciplined execution.
Rehabilitation becomes an arduous journey for most women prison inmates. To support and encourage them towards self-development, being empathetic towards them is one of the first steps. To ensure peace, confidence, and recovery within women inmates, organizations and individuals must create an environment that allows the holistic development of individuals. Psychological well-being and attaining peace can be achieved by engaging women inmates in yoga. It helps to rejuvenate them and carve the path towards rehabilitation.