Helen Bamford
Cape Town - Inmates at Cape Town’s Pollsmoor Prison have embraced yoga as a way of not only coping with incarceration, but of finding inner peace.
On Wednesday, oblivious to the taunts and jeers from fellow inmates watching from behind bars overlooking the courtyard at Medium A where the class was being held, the group was focused on their yoga poses and breathing exercises.
They even tried headstands, which led to much giggling when some lost their balance and toppled over.
John Michael Vambo said yoga had helped tremendously with his anger issues - more so than anger management classes he had attended which had not had the same results.
The 35-year-old from Eerste River, who is serving four years for assault, said at first he was not really into it.
“I thought yoga was for women. But I was encouraged to give it a try and after three-and-a-half months of classes, I feel more relaxed and at peace.”
Vambo said prison was tough with many challenges.
“But it has helped me face anything and not to worry all the time.”
Vuyo Sixaba, 39, from Khayelitsha, who is serving time for car theft, said yoga had helped him cope with stress.
“I could not sleep when I first came to Pollsmoor and this has helped. It also has helped get rid of my headaches.”
Pollsmoor spokesman Lewies Davids said they had noticed the yoga classes helped control anger and aggression among inmates, which was useful at a facility where overcrowding was an everyday challenge.
“Pollsmoor is not like a hospital where you can say sorry we are full. We have to accommodate everyone so it helps to work with non-governmental organisations and faith-based organisations and to try to create pockets of excellence.”
Instructor Josh Ramsey has been volunteering at Pollsmoor for 18 months.
When he heard about SevaUnite’s Prison Freedom Project, which teaches yoga in prisons, he knew he wanted to get involved.
The NGO has a presence at Pollsmoor, Malmesbury and Worcester prisons.
Ramsey said yoga provided the tools to help the inmates feel better in confined space to deal with stress.
Yoonus Alexander, 32, from Woodstock, who is serving time for theft, said he was relaxed after completing his first class.
“I felt safe and secure - and prison is a place where you don’t often feel like that.”
Cape Argus