Department of Psychology, Cleveland State University, Ohio.
Doctoral student, School of Psychology, University of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Int J Yoga Therap. 2023 Dec 1;33(2023). doi: 10.17761/2023-D-23-00012.
In recent decades, there has been more significant implementation and research of yoga programs in prisons and correctional facilities. Existing literature suggests that adult and juvenile prison-based yoga programs may improve stress-management and self-regulation skills; reduce depression, anxiety, aggression, and addictive behaviors; and increase prosocial behaviors. However, yoga in juvenile correctional facilities is still understudied compared to adult populations. The Prison Yoga Project (PYP) and Yoga FLAME (Focus, Letting go, Anger management, Mindfulness, and Exhaling negativity) are two frameworks used to structure the implementation of prison-based yoga programs among incarcerated adolescents. The present study aimed to describe trauma-related stress and self-regulation levels in a sample of incarcerated youth and to explore yoga's effects on developing stress-reduction skills. The study collected measures on overall and in-session stress reduction and baseline self-regulation. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and public-safety restrictions, the present study was prematurely terminated after 5 months. Only pre-assessment measures were collected. Across time, participants reported a 38% mean stress reduction from the beginning to the end of a yoga session. Incarcerated youth with higher initial self-regulation levels showed higher pre- to post-session improvements in stress. The present findings provide valuable evidence that yoga practice using the combined PYP and FLAME framework can deliver practical benefits to juvenile correctional facilities. Furthermore, yoga may be used to foster rehabilitation, enhance skill development, and facilitate greater success in youth transitioning back into the community.
近几十年来，监狱和惩教设施中越来越多地实施和研究瑜伽项目。现有文献表明，成人和青少年监狱瑜伽项目可能改善压力管理和自我调节技能；减少抑郁、焦虑、攻击和成瘾行为；并增加亲社会行为。然而，与成人相比，青少年矫正机构的瑜伽研究仍相对较少。监狱瑜伽项目（PYP）和瑜伽 FLAME（专注、放手、愤怒管理、正念和呼出消极情绪）是两种用于构建在押青少年监狱瑜伽项目实施的框架。本研究旨在描述一个青少年被监禁样本中的与创伤相关的应激和自我调节水平，并探讨瑜伽对培养减压技能的影响。该研究收集了关于整体和会议期间的压力减轻以及基线自我调节的措施。由于 COVID-19 大流行和公共安全限制，本研究在 5 个月后提前终止。只收集了预先评估的措施。随着时间的推移，参与者报告说，从瑜伽课程开始到结束，压力平均减轻了 38%。自我调节水平较高的青少年在瑜伽课程前后的压力改善程度更高。本研究结果提供了有价值的证据，表明使用 PYP 和 FLAME 相结合的框架进行瑜伽练习可以为青少年矫正机构带来实际利益。此外，瑜伽可以用于促进康复、增强技能发展，并为青少年重新融入社区提供更大的成功机会。
