Prisoners in India have been given the opportunity to secure an early release if they can master yoga poses and pass the yoga exams set for them.

The prisoners have been informed that they can reduce their sentences by three months if they can do well to impress the prison wardens in yoga practices.

“There’s a written and physical exam and those who excel will be given remission with respect to their performance,” Bhushankumar Upadhyay, the additional director general of the Maharashtra prison department, who is responsible for the scheme, told AFP.

“We have started the written tests and the practical examination will commence in January. We are going to hold two exams a year and prisoners can get a maximum of three months early release.”

The aim of the programme according to prison authorities is to improve the mental and physical well being of the prisoners. Prisoners are expected to answer questions such as “What is yoga?” and “How does it help you?” as well as perform a series of complex moves.

“Yoga has been found to be very positive in harmonising our mental and physical energy. It has played a great role in the formation of the soul,”, an official of the prison said.

This initiative is the latest one from the different yogic activities outlined by India’s yoga-loving prime minister, Narendra Modi, since he came into office . May last year.

Structures have been put in place to promote yoga and other traditional Indian treatments, and also started free yoga classes for his government’s 3 million bureaucrats and their families.

Source:http://samhaykins.com/indian-prisoners-secure-an-early-release-if-they-pass-yoga-test/