2026-03-03 12:02:22

Rapists, killers and cons serving life behind bars are being invited to “heal from within” with “inner dance” classes at one prison.

At HMP Perth, in Scotland, a Category A jail housing some of the country’s most serious offenders, inmates are being offered “inner dance” classes designed to soothe their minds and tackle stress, according to the Daily Star newspaper

Inner dance is described by trauma counsellor and movement therapist Caroline Georgiou as a “sensory experience supported by music”.

Participants lie down with their eyes closed while layered soundscapes guide them on what she calls an “internal journey”.

Caroline says the sessions begin with mindfulness exercises to help the men relax, before encouraging them to move in whatever way feels natural.

Many, she claims, are able to sleep properly for the first time in years.

The classes are run from the prison’s Recovery Hub, a space aimed at supporting rehabilitation.

Caroline, who says she has “counselled with heart for over 24 years”, has been working with 15 inmates at Perth for six months and insists the impact has been powerful.

“In my 20 years of counselling, I’ve never encountered a practice that supports such immediate self-healing,” she said.

According to Caroline, sessions have led to personal insights, shifts in addiction patterns,

emotional breakthroughs, and a sense of closure some never believed possible.

She even describes the results as “system healing” rather than simple relaxation.

Caroline’s ambitions stretch far beyond Scotland.

She claims other prisons are already showing interest – and says she’s been invited to introduce inner dance to American jails, including what she describes as the world’s largest women’s correctional facility.

On returning to the UK, she plans to expand the programme further.

“I really want to help as many people as possible,” she said. “I hope everyone can be open-minded about how much this can help.”

The initiative is likely to raise eyebrows.

Many of the men taking part are serving life sentences and may never be considered safe for release. Critics will question whether violent offenders deserve what some may see as holistic therapy sessions.

Supporters, however, argue that reducing stress and addressing trauma inside prison walls can only make facilities safer – for staff and inmates alike.

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