The Indian love of peace didn’t leave South Africa with Gandhi, as hundreds of convicted murderers, rapists and smugglers embrace yoga.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest prison populations, despite only having about 48 million inhabitants. Groenpunt Prison is home to the most violent and fights were common. An offshoot of the Art of Living has won popularity with inmates, as Ansuya Khoosal recently instructed them in a short course of breathing exercises and stretches.

Maxwell Buthelezi, 24, is in jail for life…He got deeper and deeper into a gang.

One day, he and his friends went to rob a cargo ship they knew was carrying drugs. But the police were waiting for them. They suspected one of the gang sold them out, and as the ensuing gun battle with police raged, they brutally murdered him.

“My family is very ashamed of me,” he says.

“This programme has helped me with my anger,” he says.

“Just the other day I was talking on the phone and someone was bothering me. Normally I would fight him, but I stopped myself.”

“I said to him: ‘Listen my brother, what is it that you want me to do?’”

“That night in my cell I felt happy, because I knew I’d dealt with the situation in the right way.”