Prisoners in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh are being freed early if they complete yoga courses, according to a BBC report.
For every three months spent doing sun salutations, deep breathing exercises and balance postures, a prisoner will get 15 days off their sentence.
“Yoga is good for maintaining fitness, calming the behaviour, controlling anger and reducing stress,” said Sanjay Mane, the inspector general of prisons for Madhya Pradesh state.
“When a prisoner attends yoga sessions and fulfils some other conditions, he will be considered for a remission if his jail superintendent recommends his case.”
Attending literacy classes and earning college degrees would also bolster a prisoner’s case for early release, he said.
About 400 prisoners have signed up for the pilot program at Gwalior city jail.
The PPT do an amazing job and make a real difference to the inmates. There was a charity fund raiser this year (yogaThon) where the ppt were one of the charities being supported. There is a piece about it in the Jan/Feb issue of OM Yoga Magazine Well done ppt, keep up the excelent work!