Sunday, June 16, 2013

Prison exercise Peruvian-style

Prison exercise Peruvian-style: Colourful inmates break world record with aerobic display in yard

  • 1,200 inmates in overcrowded jail took part in 'full body' dancing show
  • They practised for three months, dancing to rock music and hip-hop
  • Armed robbers, hitmen and drug kingpins united for the attempt
By Craig Mackenzie
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Dressed in multi-coloured uniforms these tough jail inmates made all the right moves to dance their way into the record books
At least 1,200 prisoners in Peru's notorious Lurigancho jail beat the world record for working out at the same time in the yard.
Among them were armed robbers, hitmen, drug kingpins and petty thieves, but they all joined together to perform an aerobic 'full body' dancing show.

Scroll down for video 

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342121/Prison-exercise-Peruvian-style-Colourful-inmates-break-world-record-aerobic-display-yard.html

Showtime: Inmates at Lurigancho high security jail in Peru break the world record for the most number of prisoners doing a group aerobic dance
Showtime: Inmates at Lurigancho high security jail in Peru break the world record for the most number of prisoners doing a group aerobic dance

Fit and ready: The prisoners at the overcrowded jail on the outskirts of Lima participate in the exercise and dance routine
Fit and ready: The prisoners at the overcrowded jail on the outskirts of Lima participate in the exercise and dance routine

Working out: The inmates practised for three months before attempting the record
Working out: The inmates practised for three months before attempting the record

On alert: A prison guard walks through the lines of prisoners as they work out in the jail yard
On alert: A prison guard walks through the lines of prisoners as they work out in the jail yard

A long stretch: An inmate cheers while doing his full-body resistance workout with his jail mates in the yard
A long stretch: An inmate cheers while doing his full-body resistance workout with his jail mates in the yard

Using small gaudily-painted wooden platforms, they practiced for more than three months and danced to rock music and reggaton - a mix of hip-hop and reggae.

The men, from Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia, are all inmates at the high security jail on the outskirts of Lima.
They were coached by Roger Romero, creator of full body aerobics in Peru.
All together now: The inmates in their multi-coloured uniforms do their aerobic dance to the music
All together now: The inmates in their multi-coloured uniforms do their aerobic dance to the music

In time: Inmates lift a leg in unison during the group workout which broke the record
In time: Inmates lift a leg in unison during the group workout which broke the record

Show us your muscles: Inmates pose like boxers as they do their aerobic 'dance'
Show us your muscles: Inmates pose like boxers as they do their aerobic 'dance'

Enthusiastic: A prisoner in a striped t-shirt and blue shorts shows how its done during the record attempt
Enthusiastic: A prisoner in a striped t-shirt and blue shorts shows how its done during the record attempt
Lurigancho was originally built to hold 2,500 prisoners, but there are now 7,000 inmates behind its crumbling walls, by far the most overcrowded jail in Peru.
Conditions are appalling throughout the country, with reportedly just 63 doctors and one psychiatrist treating Peru's 49,000 prisoners.
There is no segregation of inmates apart for sex offenders. Most are Peruvians but there are some  foreigners, many convicted of acting as cocaine couriers.
Keeping watch: Prison guards look on as the prisoners go through their routines
Keeping watch: Prison guards look on as the prisoners go through their routines

Wooden step: A inmate stands on a step box painted with the logo of Spain's FC Barcelona soccer team
Wooden step: A inmate stands on a step box painted with the logo of Spain's FC Barcelona soccer team

Jumping for joy: Prisoners start warming up for their record attempt in the prison yard
Jumping for joy: Prisoners start warming up for their record attempt in the prison yard

Movement: The prisoners lift their legs during the 'full body' dancing show at the prison
Movement: The prisoners lift their legs during the 'full body' dancing show at the prison
They are allowed to wear their own clothes, the smell of cannabis fills the air and the men are allowed up to two conjugal visits a week with wives and girlfriends.
Cooking is done on small gas stoves and the prison population is deafened by old stereos and TV sets switched up to full volume.
Inmates can freely roam the grounds and rabbit warren buildings from 6am to 6pm and although there are many police checks, each cell wing has its own security run by prisoners.
Making a fist of it: Among the 'dancing' inmates were armed robbers, hitmen and drug kingpins
Making a fist of it: Among the 'dancing' inmates were armed robbers, hitmen and drug kingpins

We did it: The celebrating inmates have a group hug and cheer after breaking the record
We did it: The celebrating inmates have a group hug and cheer after breaking the record
One inmate told the Independent: 'We don't want people we don't know from other wings coming here and causing trouble.
'The prison authorities don't care, so we have to do it ourselves. Everything good here has been done by the prisoners. The authorities have just left us here to rot.'
In a prison courtyard lies there is a prison 'market', where convicts sell fresh fruit and vegetables, used clothes and pirate DVDs. One even illegally rents out cellphones.

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