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About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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ISSUE NO. 2

August 2024

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Health

Back on Track

Dealing with back pain

The Prison Phoenix Trust is a UK based charity providing prisoners with yoga and meditation classes, individual mentoring, peer-support and specialist educational resources accessible to a wide range of learning abilities.

Back pain can be miserable. Most of us experience it at some stage, because of injury, a bad mattress or just bad luck. This routine will help release and realign the back, helping you to feel better. It is especially good for sciatica, (shooting pains along the back of the leg). Don’t do anything that feels painful or unstable, and keep attention on your breath as you go. We’d love to hear from you about how you get on.

Supine

Lie on your back with your knees to the sky. Be aware of your spine and each part of your back in contact with the surface. If your back is particularly bad this may be all you are able to do. That is fine. Stay for 10 deep, slow breaths.

Knee Raises

Hug one knee in tight to your chest. Hold for 5 slow breaths. Repeat on the other side.

Eagle Twists

You can make this twist less intense by just having the legs held together, not crossed. 5 breaths each side.


Resting Pigeon

Rest your ankle on the other knee and bring the knee towards the chest using your hands. Hold for 5 deep breaths, building up to 10, and staying with the tight feeling in the side of the buttock.

Full Pigeon

This is one for when your back is feeling pretty much okay – if you’re not sure, skip it! tuck one foot in front of you, with your knee out to the side. Breathe into the stretch for 5 slow breaths.

Sphynx

Hold for 5 deep breaths.

Child

Stay like this for 10 deep, slow breaths. You can put a pillow or your fists under your forehead if it doesn’t reach the floor.

Sitting

Sit like this, relaxed and upright, and keep your attention on your breathing. Try to make the out-breath longer than the in-breath. If it takes you five counts to breathe in, try to breathe out for eight. Do this for a couple of minutes then let go of control and just breathe. Sit like this, focusing on your breath, concentrating on the feeling of it, for five minutes or longer if you like.

If you are in pain, and can do nothing else, try to sit like this and concentrate on your breath. It’s amazing how much better you can make yourself feel, with your own breath, and a little patience and time!

Back pain can be miserable. Most of us experience it at some stage, because of injury, a bad mattress or just bad luck. This routine will help release and realign the back, helping you to feel better. It is especially good for sciatica, (shooting pains along the back of the leg). Don’t do anything that feels painful or unstable, and keep attention on your breath as you go. We’d love to hear from you about how you get on.

Supine

Lie on your back with your knees to the sky. Be aware of your spine and each part of your back in contact with the surface. If your back is particularly bad this may be all you are able to do. That is fine. Stay for 10 deep, slow breaths.

Knee Raises

Hug one knee in tight to your chest. Hold for 5 slow breaths. Repeat on the other side.

Eagle Twists

You can make this twist less intense by just having the legs held together, not crossed. 5 breaths each side.


Resting Pigeon

Rest your ankle on the other knee and bring the knee towards the chest using your hands. Hold for 5 deep breaths, building up to 10, and staying with the tight feeling in the side of the buttock.

Full Pigeon

This is one for when your back is feeling pretty much okay – if you’re not sure, skip it! tuck one foot in front of you, with your knee out to the side. Breathe into the stretch for 5 slow breaths.

Sphynx

Hold for 5 deep breaths.

Child

Stay like this for 10 deep, slow breaths. You can put a pillow or your fists under your forehead if it doesn’t reach the floor.

Sitting

Sit like this, relaxed and upright, and keep your attention on your breathing. Try to make the out-breath longer than the in-breath. If it takes you five counts to breathe in, try to breathe out for eight. Do this for a couple of minutes then let go of control and just breathe. Sit like this, focusing on your breath, concentrating on the feeling of it, for five minutes or longer if you like.

If you are in pain, and can do nothing else, try to sit like this and concentrate on your breath. It’s amazing how much better you can make yourself feel, with your own breath, and a little patience and time!

Ask the Doctor: Heart Attack

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A heart attack occurs when there is blockage in the heart’s own blood supply.

Health

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Loneliness is a pervasive, all-encompassing state comprised of many unpleasant and distressing feelings. It is distinct from being alone, or from being socially isolated.

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Reprinted with permission from Inside Time

Determined to make positive changes in life? It can start with digestion!

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ISSUE NO. 19

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A stroke describes death to brain tissue caused by disrupted blood supply.

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