Yoga and victims

Abstract

In this paper the findings of literature review and explorative empirical research of yoga application in the work with victims of various forms of sufferings is presented. The largest notion of victim is accepted, which encompasses victims of crime, victims of human rights violations (including convicted persons), as well as victims of war, natural disasters and other sufferings. After determination of the notion of victim and yoga, the review and analyses of research findings and direct experiences with the application of yoga in victim support and victimisation prevention worldwide and in Serbia, is done. The author’s research findings as well as personal experiences with the application of yoga in the work with prisoners in prison for women in Pozarevac (Serbia), within the workshops that Victimology Society of Serbia implemented during 2012/2013, are presented as well. In the conclusions, contribution of yoga to holistic approach to victim support as well as important role that yoga may have in prevention of victimisation and criminalisation, is stressed. The importance of yoga for support of prisoners as the part of preparation for re-entry and with the aim to prevent recidivism, as well as to enable their more successful reintegration into the society, is particularly emphasised. The paper is based on the research implemented by the author for the purpose of writing the final essey at the course for yoga instructors on International yoga academy, Yoga Allience of Serbia.

U radu se iznose rezultati teorijskog i eksplorativnog empirijskog istraživanja primene joge u radu sa žrtvama različitih oblika stradanja. Prihvaćen je najširi pojam žrtve koji obuhvata žrtve krivičnih dela, žrtve kršenja ljudskih prava (uključujući i osuđena lica), kao i žrtve rata, elementarnih nepogoda i drugih stradanja. Nakon određenja pojmova žrtva i joga, daje se prikaz i analiza istraživanja i iskustava u svetu i Srbiji u vezi primene joge u prevenciji viktimizacije, u pružanju pomoći i podrške žrtvama. Prikazani su i nalazi sopstvenog istraživanja, kao i autorkina lična iskustva u primeni nekih aspekata joge u radu sa zatvorenicama u Kazneno-popravnom zavodu za žene u Požarevcu, u okviru radionica koje je tokom 2012/2013. godine realizovalo Viktimološko društvo Srbije. Na kraju rada iznose se zaključci vezani za doprinos joge holističkom pristupu podršci žrtvama, i za važnu ulogu koju joga može imati u prevenciji viktimizacije i kriminalizacije. Posebno se ukazuje na značaj joge za podršku osuđenim licima u okviru pripreme za izlazak na slobodu, a u cilju sprečavanja recidiva i njihove uspešnije integracije u društvo.