This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7777912.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
South African prisoners embrace yoga | South African prisoners embrace yoga |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Advertisement | Advertisement |
Inmates explain how the programme helps them relax | Inmates explain how the programme helps them relax |
By Andrew Walker BBC News, Johannesburg | By Andrew Walker BBC News, Johannesburg |
The prisoners at Groenpunt Maximum Security prison in Free State province are among the most violent in South Africa. | |
They have raped, murdered, smuggled drugs or abused children. Many are HIV-positive and can expect to die in jail. | They have raped, murdered, smuggled drugs or abused children. Many are HIV-positive and can expect to die in jail. |
Inside prison their anger boils over and violence is common. | Inside prison their anger boils over and violence is common. |
But a new programme of yoga lessons is helping inmates to discover ways to calm themselves and take a more positive look at their lives, even if they never get out from behind bars. | But a new programme of yoga lessons is helping inmates to discover ways to calm themselves and take a more positive look at their lives, even if they never get out from behind bars. |
Honest smiles | Honest smiles |
From the deck of a rusty old boxing ring Ansuya Khoosal takes the prisoners through a series of yoga positions and breathing exercises. | From the deck of a rusty old boxing ring Ansuya Khoosal takes the prisoners through a series of yoga positions and breathing exercises. |
Prisoners say they are more relaxed, and warders agree "Breathe in... And let go," she repeats. | Prisoners say they are more relaxed, and warders agree "Breathe in... And let go," she repeats. |
The prisoners have their eyes shut, listening to her soothing voice. | The prisoners have their eyes shut, listening to her soothing voice. |
They appear at peace with themselves. | They appear at peace with themselves. |
"I can't see any smiles!" Ansuya says, and wide, honest grins appear on their faces. | "I can't see any smiles!" Ansuya says, and wide, honest grins appear on their faces. |
They stand in their bright orange uniforms, flinging their arms up in a flurry of stretches. | They stand in their bright orange uniforms, flinging their arms up in a flurry of stretches. |
Some inmates take it very seriously, others treat it like a bit of a lark, but it is clear that the lessons are popular. | Some inmates take it very seriously, others treat it like a bit of a lark, but it is clear that the lessons are popular. |
It is the last day of a seven day programme of lessons, teaching the inmates basic yoga positions, as well as breathing exercises devised by yoga master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. | It is the last day of a seven day programme of lessons, teaching the inmates basic yoga positions, as well as breathing exercises devised by yoga master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. |
The organisation that provides the teaching, Art of Living, say they hope the inmates will take what they have learned and practice in their cells on their own. | The organisation that provides the teaching, Art of Living, say they hope the inmates will take what they have learned and practice in their cells on their own. |
The organisation cannot run classes every week, but they have identified enthusiastic inmates to carry on encouraging their cell-mates to continue. | The organisation cannot run classes every week, but they have identified enthusiastic inmates to carry on encouraging their cell-mates to continue. |
A life inside | A life inside |
Maxwell Buthelezi, 24, is in jail for life. | Maxwell Buthelezi, 24, is in jail for life. |
I was talking on the phone and someone was bothering me. Normally I would fight him, but I stopped myself Maxwell ButheleziServing a life sentence Audio slideshow: Prison body art He says he fell in with the wrong crowd at university. | I was talking on the phone and someone was bothering me. Normally I would fight him, but I stopped myself Maxwell ButheleziServing a life sentence Audio slideshow: Prison body art He says he fell in with the wrong crowd at university. |
While other students were studying, he was out with his friends, robbing motorists at gunpoint wearing a fake policeman's uniform. | While other students were studying, he was out with his friends, robbing motorists at gunpoint wearing a fake policeman's uniform. |
He got deeper and deeper into a gang. | He got deeper and deeper into a gang. |
Until one day, he and his friends went to rob a cargo ship they knew was carrying drugs. | Until one day, he and his friends went to rob a cargo ship they knew was carrying drugs. |
But the police were waiting for them. | But the police were waiting for them. |
They suspected one of the gang sold them out, and as the ensuing gun battle with police raged, they brutally murdered him. | They suspected one of the gang sold them out, and as the ensuing gun battle with police raged, they brutally murdered him. |
"My family is very ashamed of me," he says. | "My family is very ashamed of me," he says. |
He is two years into his 20-year minimum sentence. | He is two years into his 20-year minimum sentence. |
His prison identity card is marked that he is in for life, and can only be released when the Department of Corrections decides. | His prison identity card is marked that he is in for life, and can only be released when the Department of Corrections decides. |
"This programme has helped me with my anger," he says. | "This programme has helped me with my anger," he says. |
"Just the other day I was talking on the phone and someone was bothering me. Normally I would fight him, but I stopped myself." | "Just the other day I was talking on the phone and someone was bothering me. Normally I would fight him, but I stopped myself." |
"I said to him: 'Listen my brother, what is it that you want me to do?'" | "I said to him: 'Listen my brother, what is it that you want me to do?'" |
"That night in my cell I felt happy, because I knew I'd dealt with the situation in the right way." | "That night in my cell I felt happy, because I knew I'd dealt with the situation in the right way." |
Sceptical | Sceptical |
Mrs Khoosal says she has seen a change in the prisoners in just the seven days since she first met them. | Mrs Khoosal says she has seen a change in the prisoners in just the seven days since she first met them. |
When I first heard about it I thought how can that help? Anita HanekomHead of social services "When we arrived they were very suspicious." | When I first heard about it I thought how can that help? Anita HanekomHead of social services "When we arrived they were very suspicious." |
"They thought it was an Indian thing, and heckled us, but by the end I could feel they weren't just doing it for the certificate." | "They thought it was an Indian thing, and heckled us, but by the end I could feel they weren't just doing it for the certificate." |
The yoga technique she teaches can control emotions, she says. | The yoga technique she teaches can control emotions, she says. |
"When we are angry we breath a certain way and when we are sad we breath another. | "When we are angry we breath a certain way and when we are sad we breath another. |
"If you can control the breathing, you can therefore control the emotion." | "If you can control the breathing, you can therefore control the emotion." |
The inmates weren't the only ones who were sceptical. | The inmates weren't the only ones who were sceptical. |
"When I first heard about it I thought: 'How can that help?'" Anita Hanekom, head of Social Services at the prison told the BBC. | "When I first heard about it I thought: 'How can that help?'" Anita Hanekom, head of Social Services at the prison told the BBC. |
"But now I've seen it can work." | "But now I've seen it can work." |
Now the Department of Correctional Services which runs South Africa's prisons wants to implement the programme in other jails. | Now the Department of Correctional Services which runs South Africa's prisons wants to implement the programme in other jails. |
It has worked in other countries too. | It has worked in other countries too. |
But South Africa's prison system remains a brutal and frightening world. | But South Africa's prison system remains a brutal and frightening world. |
Many inmates join gangs for protection, and the gangs' influence extends into the world outside where violent crime is rampant. | Many inmates join gangs for protection, and the gangs' influence extends into the world outside where violent crime is rampant. |
"We can only hope that they take these techniques with them if they leave prison," says Mrs Khoosal. | "We can only hope that they take these techniques with them if they leave prison," says Mrs Khoosal. |
Previous version
1
Next version