adminthe Art of Living Prison Stress Management and Rehabilitation Training (Prison SMART) course.
The training undertaken in collaboration with the Art of Living Foundation uses specific exercises to improve well-being by enhancing energy levels.
Exercises included warm-ups, joint rotations and gentle stretches which help inmates to relieve stress, feel healthier and sleep better.
“The Art of Living course helps you to reform so that when you go out you can easily be accepted by society and your relatives,” Dep Comm Moyo said.
“It is very important for everyone to know that these inmates are still human beings and can reform like anybody else.”
ZPS started offering the course in August 2011 and initial results show that it has helped prisoners to feel better and calmer and to stop smoking.
Trainers said it also helped to reduce anger,fear,depression and feelings of isolation among prisoners.
Simbarashe Chaunoita, one of the inmates who participated in the course, said he benefited immensely from the course.
“I now have a calm mind and I no longer have time to think about bad things which I used to do everyday since I came into this prison. I feel better now and I can sleep well,” he said.
Said Malvin Machiti, another inmate: “I used to worry myself each and everyday on how I was going to survive in this prison. At first I thought this was hell and I was going to die but that is now a feeling of the past since I learnt to calm my mind through the training.”
Online Reporter