Abstract
International research provides support for yoga as a well-being intervention in prison. No systematic research has been undertaken in Australia to assess the effectiveness of prison yoga programs. In 2017, the authors, in partnership with Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Corrective Services and the Yoga Foundation, introduced a weekly pilot yoga program at the ACT prison. This article presents quantitative and qualitative findings from the program. Although the small sample size (n = 8) is acknowledged, our findings indicate that participants attained statistically and clinically significant benefit from the program, demonstrated by improvements in their levels of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, goal-direction, negative affect, and non-acceptance. They also reported improved flexibility, sleep and relaxation, pain reduction, and identified improvements in their mental well-being, commenting that the program made them feel “calm” and “at peace.” The article concludes by advocating for the expansion of such programs in Australian prisons and further research on such programs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2531-2549 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology |
| Volume | 63 |
| Issue number | 15-16 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
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“I Would Just Feel Really Relaxed and at Peace” : Findings From a Pilot Prison Yoga Program in Australia. / Bartels, Lorana; Oxman, Lisa N.; Hopkins, Anthony.
In: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 63, No. 15-16, 2019, p. 2531-2549.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - “I Would Just Feel Really Relaxed and at Peace”
T2 - Findings From a Pilot Prison Yoga Program in Australia
AU - Bartels, Lorana
AU - Oxman, Lisa N.
AU - Hopkins, Anthony
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - International research provides support for yoga as a well-being intervention in prison. No systematic research has been undertaken in Australia to assess the effectiveness of prison yoga programs. In 2017, the authors, in partnership with Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Corrective Services and the Yoga Foundation, introduced a weekly pilot yoga program at the ACT prison. This article presents quantitative and qualitative findings from the program. Although the small sample size (n = 8) is acknowledged, our findings indicate that participants attained statistically and clinically significant benefit from the program, demonstrated by improvements in their levels of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, goal-direction, negative affect, and non-acceptance. They also reported improved flexibility, sleep and relaxation, pain reduction, and identified improvements in their mental well-being, commenting that the program made them feel “calm” and “at peace.” The article concludes by advocating for the expansion of such programs in Australian prisons and further research on such programs.
AB - International research provides support for yoga as a well-being intervention in prison. No systematic research has been undertaken in Australia to assess the effectiveness of prison yoga programs. In 2017, the authors, in partnership with Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Corrective Services and the Yoga Foundation, introduced a weekly pilot yoga program at the ACT prison. This article presents quantitative and qualitative findings from the program. Although the small sample size (n = 8) is acknowledged, our findings indicate that participants attained statistically and clinically significant benefit from the program, demonstrated by improvements in their levels of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, goal-direction, negative affect, and non-acceptance. They also reported improved flexibility, sleep and relaxation, pain reduction, and identified improvements in their mental well-being, commenting that the program made them feel “calm” and “at peace.” The article concludes by advocating for the expansion of such programs in Australian prisons and further research on such programs.
KW - Australia
KW - meditation
KW - prison
KW - prisoner well-being
KW - yoga
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85067815855&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/i-just-feel-really-relaxed-peace-findings-pilot-prison-yoga-program-australia
U2 - 10.1177/0306624X19854869
DO - 10.1177/0306624X19854869
M3 - Article
VL - 63
SP - 2531
EP - 2549
JO - International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
JF - International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
SN - 0306-624X
IS - 15-16
ER -