Shashi K Agarwal MD

Yoga for Inmates Shashi K Agarwal MD

Incarceration, including the pre- and post-confinement periods, is devastating for the physical, emotional and spiritual health - of any human being. Many prisoners already suffer from chronic diseases, such as HIV-infection, diabetes and hypertension on entry. It is estimated that one in five incarcerated persons is also afflicted with a major psychiatric illness. Many suffer from substance abuse and violent behavior. These inmates often find that the prison health system is suboptimal for their continuing treatment. Life behind bars is further detrimental to health due to a host of unchangeable and insurmountable negative factors, pervasive in the prison system. As such, even 'healthy' individuals realize that their health has worsened during their incarceration. Following community reentry, the barriers to adequate medical care are significant. In many cases they are worse - and include lack of health insurance, long waiting time at clinics and inability to afford prescription medicines. Poverty, poor diet, supervised release restrictions, emotional disturbances related to family and friends, social isolation, inability to reestablish lost business and a host of other demanding factors become further impediments. The result is continuing worsening of the physical and mental health in this population - despite being released from prison and now considered 'free'. It is therefore not surprising that former prisoners are at a 12-fold increased risk of death - in the 2-week period following release. Knowledge of the yogic view of life and adopting a simple routine of yogic exercises - postures (asanas), breath control (prayanama), and meditation (dhyana), can help halt and even reverse, insults suffered by the physical body, mind and soul - during and post incarceration. This book presents a simple one-hour yoga exercise program, that can be easily done while incarcerated, even within an inmate's cell - at any time and without any special equipment. It will help the prisoner prevent and control the 'ravages of prison ill-health' - while incarcerated. Besides an improved physical health, yoga practice will also help inmates reduce their cravings for addictive substances and decrease their propensity for violence. They will improve their emotional maturity and become more spiritually enlightened. Overall, they will be better able to cope with, what often manifests as, an even harsher world - following release.