New research suggests a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline could help fathers in jail be better dads.

Researchers from Washington State University found that yoga, which can improve physical and mental health, may also help incarcerated fathers improve their parenting skills.

"We would have a class on a specific topic, like child development or setting limits," researcher and WSU Extension educator Jennifer Crawford said in a statement. "That would last about an hour, then a yoga instructor would come in and give a guided yoga class."

The study, located at Chelan County Regional Jail in Wenatchee, took place over three years with 14 different groups of male inmates. The program was advertised among the jail population; volunteers, who had to be parents of young children and pass a security screening, were recruited.

The program, called "Fit Fathers, Successful Families, Inside and Out," had a goal of preventing child abuse and reducing recidivism by improving parents' resilience.

The results showed that inmates demonstrated being more aware and accepting of their vulnerability and responsiveness to children, among other benefits.

"Yoga can be physically demanding, and the initial responses we got from the participants confirmed that," Crawford said. "I believe the yoga practice helped participants become ready to learn and increased their willingness to try new ideas, absorb new information and begin to apply these in their lives."

The findings are detailed in the August edition of the California Journal of Health Promotion.