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Bhubaneswar, June 21: A host of organisations celebrated International Yoga Day Tuesday. The importance of yoga, particularly in the prevailing circumstances was discussed at the events.
Leading yoga gurus spoke of commercialisation of yoga and decried the practice. They defined yoga as an art of disciplining the body.
Gurus who spoke with Orissa POST also emphasised the need to make yoga accessible to all just as food or water.
“Yoga helps a person to perform worldly duties and at the same time also take part in psycho-spiritual practices. It makes one physically fit, mentally strong, morally elevated and spiritually enlightened. So it should be made accessible to all,” Guru Lokatitananda Avadhut said.
Sunshine Hospital, a leading healthcare institution in the capital, organised a yoga session exclusively for people with arthritis.
“India gave yoga to the world around 5,000 years ago. It holds the power to heal and it is unfortunate that Indians are climbing the chart of arthritics. We organise special yoga sessions for people with arthritis to encourage them to include yoga in their routine,” Dr Sachin Jain, vice president of operations at Sunshine Hospital Bhubaneswar, said.
“Yoga is all about your body and soul. The practitioner of yoga can master their bodies and ‘chakras’ of life. I strongly condemn marketing in the name of yoga. I am trying to spread yoga for the benefit of the society,” Munivar Muniraj Devendra Prasad Dash, who conducted the session at Sunshine hospital, said.
This yoga guru also believes in the power of yoga in self healing.
“Yogic control of body systems helps self healing. I have handled many cases that will prove my statement,” Dash told Orissa POST.
Doctors, too, opined the meditation technique can help reduce stress levels and improve flexibility of the body.
“The lack of exercise, stress and lifestyle changes are causing diseases. Yoga helps reduce stress and improves flexibility. It is highly recommended for all,” Dr Tushar Panda of the department of Orthopaedics at Sunshine Hospital said.
Government ITI Bhubaneswar organised a special yoga session for the students. “We need people with sound mind and knowledge. So we organised this session and a debate on the importance of yoga. Guru Kalindi Singh taught the students various asanas and the students performed these with interest,” principal of Government ITI Bhubaneswar Jeetamitra Satpathy said.
CRPF, too, organsied a yoga session at BB Mishra Stadium in Bhubaneswar to mark the day. PK Nayak, DIG, GC, Bhubaneswar, NK Yadav, DIG (Administration) Orissa Sector, MK Dubey, IGP, Orissa and other top officials attended the function.
“Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient India. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfillment and helps in the well-being of a person. So we organised a special yoga session for CRPF jawans and more than 1,000 officials attended the session,” NK Yadav said.
