Lessons in flexibility: Introducing a yoga program in an Australian prison

Anthony Hopkins, Lorana Bartels, Lisa Oxman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
53 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

International research provides support for yoga as a wellbeing intervention in prison. Until recently, no systematic research had been undertaken in Australia to assess the effectiveness of a yoga program, or consider the challenges of implementation. In 2017, the authors, in partnership with Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Corrective Services and the Yoga Foundation, introduced a pilot yoga program at the Alexander Maconochie Centre in the ACT. This paper draws on comments from the prisoners who participated in the program and the yoga teacher, as well as the perspectives of a prison psychologist and the lead author, both of whom also participated in the program. The paper reflects on the lessons learnt from developing and delivering a prison yoga program and advocates for the expansion of such programs in Australian prisons.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1046
Pages (from-to)47-61
Number of pages15
JournalInternational Journal For Crime, Justice and Social Democracy
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Nov 2019
Externally publishedYes

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