<p>A 10-day yoga programme was on Sunday introduced for the inmates of Bhaderwah jail in Doda district a twin objective of helping them overcome depression and raising awareness about drug abuse, officials said.</p>.<p>The programme is part of continuing efforts of the Ministry of Ayush to reach out to every section of society to eradicate the drug menace, they said.<br /><br /><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/unani-drugs-to-be-made-available-at-100-ayush-hospitals-in-rajasthan-1226628.html">Unani drugs to be made available at 100 Ayush hospitals in Rajasthan</a></strong></p>.<p>Yoga therapist from the Ministry of Ayush Nidhi Padha taught various ‘Asanas’ to the inmates, marking the beginning of the 10-day training-cum-yoga awareness programme under 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' with the tagline 'Say yes to yoga and no to drugs’.</p>.<p>She gave tips to the jail inmates to improve their mental strength so that they can stay away from negativity and imbibe the courage to say no to drugs.</p>.<p>"Yoga will surely help to de-stress the inmates, especially those detained under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by improving their self-strength, balance, flexibility, meditation, breath work, and selfless action to stay away from negative thoughts and any kind of toxic addiction," Padha told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>She said regular spiritual exercise would help prisoners overcome their depression and also come handy to integrate them with the mainstream on their release.</p>.<p>“Yoga will help calm their minds and make them better citizens," she said.</p>.<p>The inmates expressed gratitude to the authorities with several of them saying that they felt less distressed and more positive after just one session.</p>.<p>"I am spending one-year detention here under Public Safety Act after being booked in NDPS Act. I was an addict but my jail term has brought positive changes in me and this is because of the reforms here. I feel practising yoga will help further," Saddam Hussain (34), an inmate, said.</p>.<p>Irshad Ahmad (31), said he was in jail for the last two years and under depression due to staying away from his family.</p>.<p>“After attending the yoga session, I am feeling better. I hope by following yoga and meditation regularly, positivity will return in my life," he said.</p>
<p>A 10-day yoga programme was on Sunday introduced for the inmates of Bhaderwah jail in Doda district a twin objective of helping them overcome depression and raising awareness about drug abuse, officials said.</p>.<p>The programme is part of continuing efforts of the Ministry of Ayush to reach out to every section of society to eradicate the drug menace, they said.<br /><br /><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/unani-drugs-to-be-made-available-at-100-ayush-hospitals-in-rajasthan-1226628.html">Unani drugs to be made available at 100 Ayush hospitals in Rajasthan</a></strong></p>.<p>Yoga therapist from the Ministry of Ayush Nidhi Padha taught various ‘Asanas’ to the inmates, marking the beginning of the 10-day training-cum-yoga awareness programme under 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' with the tagline 'Say yes to yoga and no to drugs’.</p>.<p>She gave tips to the jail inmates to improve their mental strength so that they can stay away from negativity and imbibe the courage to say no to drugs.</p>.<p>"Yoga will surely help to de-stress the inmates, especially those detained under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by improving their self-strength, balance, flexibility, meditation, breath work, and selfless action to stay away from negative thoughts and any kind of toxic addiction," Padha told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>She said regular spiritual exercise would help prisoners overcome their depression and also come handy to integrate them with the mainstream on their release.</p>.<p>“Yoga will help calm their minds and make them better citizens," she said.</p>.<p>The inmates expressed gratitude to the authorities with several of them saying that they felt less distressed and more positive after just one session.</p>.<p>"I am spending one-year detention here under Public Safety Act after being booked in NDPS Act. I was an addict but my jail term has brought positive changes in me and this is because of the reforms here. I feel practising yoga will help further," Saddam Hussain (34), an inmate, said.</p>.<p>Irshad Ahmad (31), said he was in jail for the last two years and under depression due to staying away from his family.</p>.<p>“After attending the yoga session, I am feeling better. I hope by following yoga and meditation regularly, positivity will return in my life," he said.</p>