Give It 10: Free Yoga & Meditation Pack for Better Mental Health in Prison
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May), we are offering our free Give It 10 pack to support the wellbeing of people living or working in prison. This simple resource invites participants to try 10 minutes of yoga and meditation a day for 7 days, helping introduce calming, grounding practices into daily life.
What’s Included
The Give It 10 pack is designed for use by individuals or groups, and is ideal for prison officers, health teams, peer supporters and activity coordinators. Each free pack includes:
- Illustrated yoga sequences (print)
- A display poster
- Essential safety tips
- A 7‑day practice calendar
Why Yoga Supports Prisons’ Mental Health Awareness Week
Research shows that yoga and meditation significantly improve wellbeing in prison environments. In 2023–24, The PPT evaluated 40 participants in yoga classes using the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Results included:
- 84% reported a meaningful improvement in mental wellbeing
- Those with low wellbeing fell from 69% to 5%
- Moderate wellbeing increased from 31% to 78%
- High wellbeing rose from 0% to 18%
These findings highlight the impact of even short, structured wellbeing activity.
How Yoga Helps People in Prison
Yoga provides practical tools that support both mental and emotional resilience:
Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Breathwork and mindful movement help calm the nervous system and reduce hyper‑vigilance.
Build Self‑Worth
Regular practice creates a sense of grounding and increases confidence and focus.
Improve Emotional Regulation
Participants learn to pause, notice and respond rather than react impulsively.
Support Trauma Recovery
Yoga gently rebuilds connection with the body, helping address negative self‑image linked to past trauma.
Start in Just 10 Minutes a Day
The Give It 10 pack makes it simple to introduce low‑cost, high‑impact wellbeing activities into the prison environment.