LAGRANGE, Ky. - A rhythmic hum resonates from the middle of the gym as 50 men sit in meditation poses, their legs crossed and their palms resting on their knees facing the ceiling.

        The men are black and white and range from their early 20s to senior citizens, but it isn't their diversity that makes their yoga class unique.

        The gym where they practice is outlined in purple and beige, painted that way to avoid gang colors. And on top of the bleachers rest prison-issued tan uniforms, which the students will change back into after class.

        The men are inmates at Kentucky's Luther Luckett Correctional Complex. Kentucky is the second state to offer the Inner Freedom for the Imprisoned yoga program. Prison officials hope the principles of yoga will stimulate a physical, mental and behavioral change in the inmates.

        Volunteers held the yoga classes last week at Luther Luckett, where students at the minimum-security prison included sex offenders and convicted murderers.

        “We try to offer many programs to our inmates that help them grow and prepare them for release,” said prison spokeswoman Cindy Hall.

        Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, a yogi and mystic, started the classes more than a decade ago in India with prisoners serving life terms. Since holding the classes, disciplinary problems at the prison dropped and officials adopted the program for all correctional facilities in the state of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Vasudev said.

        Now some U.S. prison officials see potential in allowing inmates to learn about sun salutations, meditation and breathing exercises. Mr. Vasudev and volunteers from his organization, Isha Foundation, held a week of classes in June with 50 prisoners at the SCI-Dallas, a Pennsylvania prison. Since then, prison officials in that state have asked the Isha Foundation volunteers to begin yoga classes at the state's 27 correctional facilities.

        “You're thinking there's no way our inmates are going to do something like that,” said Jay Konigus, a corrections activities specialist at SCI-Dallas. “Once they did it, they forget about all their problems and put aside their differences.”

        Mr. Vasudev attributes the change to yoga's focus on balancing a person's physical and mental well-being with the way he releases energy.

        “I'm teaching them to release their compulsions,” he said of the inmates. “Once energy happens by choice, the need to do compulsive action is gone.”

        In between the exercises and discussions, all the inmates remained quiet, waiting for the soft-spoken commands from their slightly-built instructor.

        “They are like little children with me,” he said.

        Mr. Vasudev said he doesn't see the prisoners as being different from him and that acceptance helps them follow his instructions without prompting or disruption.

        “I don't have separate goals for prisoners. Our goal is for all people to learn to live peacefully, joyfully. Only then can we live peacefully,” he said.

        Richard Hughes, an inmate serving a 25-year sentence for a murder conviction, said he's gained a sense of clarity from the classes that will help him when he is released.

        “I'm going to be released back into a society that's going to change when I get out,” he said. “I don't have to let it freak me out.”

        Adam Duran, a 25-year old Luther Luckett inmate convicted of trafficking heroin, said he started using the teachings to defuse his anger and control his reaction to other inmates.

        “I always think about acting out violently, now I think about where I'm at and realize that the moment has already passed,” he said.

        Although many fellow inmates mock his interest in the yoga classes, Mr. Duran said he hopes to continue attending classes and practicing the techniques on his own.

        “It's so peaceful when you're in here. Out in the yard, people talk about "this guy sold me some drugs,' but in here, he (Mr. Vasudev) talks about life, things that are deep.”

Police discipline unequal
Water restrictions lifted
Year-round schools kick off
BRONSON: Critters worse than acid rain
Community rallies to open fresh market
For slain woman's father, justice a trial of patience
Profs, students head down the river
Teens return from intense times in Israel
Mt. Healthy schools put 8.99-mill levy on ballot
Blood shortage affects Tristate, Dayton
Forest Park aims for safety
Good News: Library welcomes pets, owners
Local Digest
You Asked For It
Congrats
Firefighter devoted to youth
Man injured when plane flips on landing
McNUTT: Sampler of events
Brownfield cleanup money awarded to best-laid plans
Ind. man killed, Ky. officer hurt in shootout
Suspect in shooting of Ky. trooper dead
Lawyers: Archbishop didn't break law
Prison offers inmates yoga classes