Prisoners get cell bed yoga and stretching guide to help relieve stress

"Stressed-out" convicts across Britain, are being given the guide to doing the trendy exercises, popular with super-fit celebrities such as Madonna and Geri Halliwell.

And prison officers say the move is proving popular with inmates that they have begged wardens for more time to practice meditation.

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It is hoped that the new scheme which is being carried out in prisons such as the maximum security Wakefield jail, will help them relax and help lags serving long prison sentences to stay fit.

Prisoners are even warned - in case of a breach of health and safety rules - to remember to breathe while carrying out some of the most complex manoeuvres.

The 15-step guide to the specially-adapted exercises, called "Cell Bed Yoga", allows the Madonna-style moves to be performed in the most cramped conditions.

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It was issued after some crooks complained of not having enough room to carry out their favourite Yoga moves - or meditation routines.

The guide, produced by lags' charity the Prison Phoenix Trust, tells prisoners: "Some of you say there are big snags to practicing yoga and meditation in your cell.

"The room's too small. You've got the lower bunk bed. You're banged up three in a cell.

"So here is a solution: do it on your bed! It can be done with a bunk bed above you.

"Enjoy and feel how much space there is in your body when you open your joints."

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After a full body workout, prisoners are advised to "sit on books and your pillow for 5 to 20 minutes, enjoying the silence with your breath."

A Phoenix spokesman said the guide was useful, adding: "It's a great way to ease a back that's tired after lying too long on a sagging mattress."

The charity hopes many of the UK's 80,000 inmates will take up the exercises.

But a Prison Service insider said: "The inmates get enough privileges as it is without messing around doing yoga.

"It's not as if they have a lot to be stressed about. They get free meals, telly whenever they want and games to play.

"Now they are being given advice about how to relax. It would be more apt if the wardens got lessons in how to de-stress rather than the prisoners."

And an HMP Wakefield source added: "This has gone down really well. Everyone's talking about how to perform the best moves."