Program

Duration: 1.5 to 3 hour per Session
Participants: More than 28,000

Program Structure

• Introduction: An informal discussion with the inmates about the session’s goals, which include incorporating yoga and meditation into their daily routine to regain physical and mental strength. The importance and benefits of yoga are thoroughly explained, and the inmates are shown various asanas that will be taught to them.
• Asana Session: Various yoga asanas are demonstrated to the inmates
• Meditation: Inmates are introduced to the technique of meditation.
• Experience Sharing: The inmates were encouraged to reflect on the good they had done in the past, which helped them overcome their inferiority complex and lack of confidence in their ability to reintegrate into society after their release.
• Cure Self: Inmates were made to think about their actions through anecdotes, and given the hope of correcting their mistakes and leading a happy and useful life for themselves and society.
• Integrated Amrita Meditation (IAM 20): The IAM Meditation Technique is a system for maintaining one’s mental health on a daily basis. IAM is a simple 20-minute daily practice that combines yoga, pranayama, and meditation. It’s a modern-day meditation technique that’s a synthesis of traditional, time-tested methods tailored to modern man’s current mental conditions, time constraints, and needs. Amma says, “The remote control of our mind should rest firmly in the palm of our hand. Imagine having such mental control. Emotions, thoughts, and memories are all at his disposal. He can change the channel if he gets angry. Jealousy and greed are the same way. He has the ability to recall any past event, such as reversing a DVD. If he needs inspiration, all he has to do is turn on the “idea channel,” and a flood of creative ideas will pour forth. IAM Meditation allows you to have total and complete mental control.
• Q&A Session: Inmates are encouraged to express their concerns and questions.

Duration: 3.5 hour per Session
Participants: 600

Program Structure

• Introduction: An informal discussion with the inmates about the session’s goals, which include incorporating yoga and meditation into their daily routine to regain physical and mental strength.
• Ice Breaker: The goal of the ice-breaking sessions is to make the participants feel relaxed and tranquil. “The participants, both inmates and officers, attend the session with different mindsets and attitudes. Different games are included to relieve tension and make them feel closer to one another and to the trainers. A game in which the participants are divided into groups of two and asked to share their whereabouts with the pair and then talk about their pair is an example of such a game. This activity creates a bond between all of the participants, making them more comfortable in the classroom.” says paralegal volunteer Smt. Soja Baby
• Experience Sharing: The inmates were encouraged to reflect on the good they had done in the past, which helped them overcome their inferiority complex and lack of confidence in their ability to reintegrate into society after their release.
• Cure Self: Inmates were made to think about their actions through anecdotes, and given the hope of correcting their mistakes and leading a happy and useful life for themselves and society.
• Integrated Amrita Meditation (IAM 20): The IAM Meditation Technique is a system for maintaining one’s mental health on a daily basis. IAM is a simple 20-minute daily practice that combines yoga, pranayama, and meditation. It’s a modern-day meditation technique that’s a synthesis of traditional, time-tested methods tailored to modern man’s current mental conditions, time constraints, and needs. Amma says, “The remote control of our mind should rest firmly in the palm of our hand. Imagine having such mental control. Emotions, thoughts, and memories are all at his disposal. He can change the channel if he gets angry. Jealousy and greed are the same way. He has the ability to recall any past event, such as reversing a DVD. If he needs inspiration, all he has to do is turn on the “idea channel,” and a flood of creative ideas will pour forth. IAM Meditation allows you to have total and complete mental control.
• Universal Peace Prayer: “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu” is chanted.
• Reflections: The inmates are encouraged to share their experiences and feedback of the session.

Duration: 20 hour Course
Participants: 80

Program Structure

• Introduction: An informal discussion with the inmates about the session’s goals, which include incorporating yoga into their daily routine to regain physical and mental strength.
• Ice breaker: The goal of the ice-breaking sessions is to make the participants feel relaxed and tranquil. “The participants, both inmates and officers, attend the session with different mindsets and attitudes. Different games are included to relieve tension and make them feel closer to one another and to the trainers.A game in which the participants are divided into groups of two and asked to share their whereabouts with the pair and then talk about their pair is an example of such a game. This activity creates a bond between all of the participants, making them more comfortable in the classroom.” says paralegal volunteer Smt. Soja Baby.
• Pre-Test: A test is conducted to determine the participants’ level of knowledge.
• Orientation: This session is to make aware the inmates of the need for the initiation of yoga in jail, and Amma’s vision regarding this initiative.
• Games: Team games to increase cohesiveness, as well as creative thinking games, confidence-building games, and concentration-increasing games are included. There are also games to help with the dopamine hormone imbalance.
• Yoga Basics: The theory session would make the participants to have a basic knowledge about the origin of yoga and its importance and benefit.
• Yoga and Meditation: Various yoga asanas are demonstrated to the inmates and they are introduced to the technique of meditation.
• Talks: Eminent personalities to make them aware of yoga and meditation is done.

First-round conducted in 3 zones, each 32 – hour session with 85 participants
The second round was conducted at Trivandrum in 2 sessions, a 29 – hour session with 75 participants

Program Structure

• Introduction: An informal discussion with the inmates about the session’s goals, which include incorporating yoga into their daily routine to regain physical and mental strength.
• Ice Breaker: The goal of the ice-breaking sessions is to make the participants feel relaxed and tranquil. “The participants, both inmates and officers, attend the session with different mindsets and attitudes. Different games are included to relieve tension and make them feel closer to one another and to the trainers.A game in which the participants are divided into groups of two and asked to share their whereabouts with the pair and then talk about their pair is an example of such a game. This activity creates a bond between all of the participants, making them more comfortable in the classroom.” says paralegal volunteer Smt. Soja Baby.
• Pre-Test: A test is conducted to determine the participants’ level of knowledge.
• Orientation: This session is to make aware the inmates of the need for the initiation of yoga in jail, and Amma’s vision regarding this initiative.
• Games: Team games to increase cohesiveness, as well as creative thinking games, confidence-building games, and concentration-increasing games are included. There are also games to help with the dopamine hormone imbalance.
• Basic Yoga: The theory session would make the participants to have a basic knowledge about the origin of yoga and its importance and benefit.
• Yoga and Meditation: Various yoga asanas are demonstrated to the inmates and they are introduced to the technique of meditation.
• Talks: Eminent personalities to make them aware of yoga and meditation is done

Duration: 30 hour
Participants: 40

Program Structure

• Introduction: An informal discussion with the inmates about the session’s goals, which include incorporating yoga into their daily routine to regain physical and mental strength.
• Ice Breaker: The goal of the ice-breaking sessions is to make the participants feel relaxed and tranquil. “The participants, both inmates and officers, attend the session with different mindsets and attitudes. Different games are included to relieve tension and make them feel closer to one another and to the trainers.A game in which the participants are divided into groups of two and asked to share their whereabouts with the pair and then talk about their pair is an example of such a game. This activity creates a bond between all of the participants, making them more comfortable in the classroom.” says paralegal volunteer Smt. Soja Baby.
• Yoga and Meditation: Various yoga asanas are demonstrated to the inmates and they are introduced to the technique of meditation.
• Talks: Eminent personalities to make them aware of yoga and meditation is done.
• Games: Team games to increase cohesiveness, as well as creative thinking games, confidence-building games, and concentration-increasing games are included. There are also games to help with the dopamine hormone imbalance.

Duration: 12 hour Course
Participants: 180

• One of the modules in the refresher course for the jail staff is the Amrita yoga and meditation session.
• The course was done in 6 sessions from Oct 14th, 2019 to Jan 17th, 2020 which had 180 participants.

Duration: 2 hour

• The International Day of Yoga was celebrated in most of the jails by practicing yoga asanas and meditation sessions.