Sambalpur: To improve the mental and physical well-being of inmates, Nari Bandi Niketan — the only women's prison in the state — has introduced weekly yoga sessions in collaboration with district health officials. Marking International Yoga Day, 30 women inmates took part in a special one-hour yoga and meditation session on the jail premises from 5:30 to 6:30am.
Superintendent Runibala Dei said a yoga instructor also conducts daily sessions from 7 to 9 am, and every Friday, yoga inspector Dini Nayak offers a guided class to deepen the practice. "We have asked the yoga instructors to build rapport with the inmates and make the class an enjoyable activity to reduce stress among the prisoners," she added. To support holistic mental health, the prison also organises daily dance and music classes for inmates.
