Bengaluru: Isha Foundation and Karnataka Government have joined hands to implement ‘Yogakshema’ programme for prison inmates with an aim to enhance their physical and mental health.

“The initiative will offer simple, but powerful yogic practices in the prison ecosystem, with an aim of enhancing physical, mental and emotional health of staff and inmates by offering programmes for self-transformation,” Isha Foundation Spokesperson said here on Wednesday.

All yogic practices offered through ‘Yogakshema’ have been designed by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder-Isha Foundation. These yoga sessions will be conducted with strict adherence to the mandated social distancing protocols due to the pandemic.

Staff and inmates in 14 prisons will be covered in this initiative which is part of a larger project envisioned by Dr. Alok Mohan, Director General of Police, Prisons and Correctional Services,

in a bid to make the prison ecosystem a more humane and transformative space rather than a purely penal centre.

Yoga and meditation programmes for physical and emotional well-being as well as skill development programmes are being offered, in 50 prisons across Karnataka, as part of Dr. Mohan’s initiative.

Isha Foundation is offering its ‘Yogakshema’ programme in 14 of them covering approximately 4,000 people. The initiative was inaugurated yesterday in 14 Prisons, where one-hour sessions will be conducted every day for inmates and staff.

Isha Yoga teachers and volunteers, community leaders and social influencers participated in large numbers at the inaugural programme.

Sharing their challenges, the prison inmates said they are looking forward to these sessions which would enable a deeper and more profound experience of life.

‘Yogakshema’ includes ‘Yoga Namaskar,’ a simple 3-minute process that brings balance and stability to the body and mind. It strengthens the spine, considered in Yoga to be the most significant part of the human anatomy for its ability to enhance one’s sensitivity, perception and experience of life. Other practices include ‘Nadi Shuddhi’ that cleanses the energy pathways (nadis) in the system to instil a deep sense of peace.