Yoga Camp Benefits Women Prisoners

07 April, 2000

VELLORE, APRIL 6. The 10-day training programme organised by the Sahaja Sthithi Yoga Program, Coimbatore, for the prisoners in the Special Prison for Women, Vellore, appears to have greatly benefited the trainees, as adduced by themselves during the valedictory function of the training programme here on Thursday.

 Rukmini, one of the prisoners, said she used to be angry with people. But now, thanks to the yoga training received by her, she has not only given up her anger but has acquired the courage to face life after her discharge from prison. It has taught her to live a disciplined life.

Deepa of Calcutta who was in the prison for a crime which she did not commit but which she 'admitted' to having committed in order to save her husband's first wife and their children for a crime (drug trafficking) committed by her husband said that the 10-day yoga training had given her the mental solace which she never got in her life. Many people came to the prison, gave advice and left but the 10-day camp was something which she felt had transformed a dreary life into one which was worth living. Mala and Rajeswari, two more prisoners, also claimed that they got mental solace from the camp.

Ms. Rajasoundari, Superintendent of the Prison, said a Goondas Act detenu (who was in the prison for acts of rowdyism) who did not want to be named told her that she was going to write to her enemy to take her life. This detenu who underwent the yoga training said that though she always had a vengeful attitude against her professional rivals in rowdyism she had been so transformed by the training that she no longer bore any ill-will against them. She has obviously been reformed by the training.

Mr. C. Antonyswamy, Managing Director of the Workshop for Rehabilitation and Training of the Handicapped (WORTH)  Trust, Katpadi, Mr. Lira. Chandrasekharan, president, Udhavum Ullangal, and Ms. Radhika of the Sahaja Sthithi Yoga Programme, participated in the valedictory function.