Foreign prisoners at a UK jail are receiving therapies that one inmate likened to a "yoga retreat," according to a report by inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board. The report praised HMP Maidstone in Kent for initiatives that include combining cold-water therapy with breathing exercises.
Report Highlights Prison Initiatives
The prison holds 600 foreign criminals from just under 100 countries. Inmates participate in group programmes that include pre-release support, criminal records workshops, relaxation and breathwork sessions. Additional initiatives include cold-water therapy and practical skills sessions such as soup- and bread-making.
The report stated: "[There were] a broad range of group programmes ... [including] pre-release support, criminal records workshops, relaxation and breathwork sessions. Additional initiatives included cold-water therapy and practical skills sessions such as soup- and bread-making."
Inmate Reaction and Wim Hof Method
As reported by The Telegraph, one inmate said: "I bet most of the prisoners are wondering what the hell is going on. Cold-water therapy and breathwork? It sounds like a yoga retreat."
The breathing exercises and cold-water therapy are popularised by Dutch motivational speaker Wim Hof, known as "The Iceman." Hof created the Wim Hof Method, which includes breathing exercises to increase adrenaline and alter blood chemistry, regular exposure to cold ice baths, cold-water swimming, and cold showers, as well as mental focus and meditation used to endure the cold.
Positive Outcomes at the Prison
According to the report, violence at the category C prison had "reduced significantly" over the past year. The prison atmosphere was noted as calm and settled, while relationships between staff and prisoners were praised as respectful and positive.
In addition to cold-water therapy and breathing exercises, the report stated that HMP Maidstone introduced a better-structured education curriculum. It also expanded its multi-faith chaplaincy, including Romanian Orthodox and Albanian Muslim chaplains, and offered strong support for neurodiversity.
A spokesman for the Prison Service said: "We inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse. We are pulling every lever to restore order, including building 14,000 extra spaces and investing £75m to clamp down on violence, criminality, and drugs."
