NAN-H-27
Yoga
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, June 17, 2017 (NAN) The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nagabushana Reddy has called for more participation in yoga to improve the overall well-being of individuals.
Reddy made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of an event ahead of the International Day of Yoga in Abuja on Saturday.
An international day for yoga was declared unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014 and has been celebrated annually on June 21 since its inception in
He said: “Yoga is an ancient Indian tradition and it is one tradition which helps to bring body, mind, intellect and soul together and improves the physical and mental well-being of individuals who engage in it.
“Life is becoming very stressful for everyone and this is one method by which we all can bring down the stress levels and promotes one’s well-being.
“It is one form of exercise that there are postures which can be practised at home, there is no need for extra tools once one has learnt the basics of this peculiar art.
“For various ailments of the body there are various yoga postures which are recommended and hence they are used for diabetes, arthritis and many ailments, and there are postures which are helpful to address them in a non-medical form.”
The envoy also added that yoga could be practised by people of all ages and was not a time-consuming exercise.
He said that the high commission supported the activities of yoga centres in the country and added that it would begin yoga classes soon.
According to him, the Indian Government supports the growing popularity of the exercise in countries globally.
Mrs Helen Chiedozi, a 78-year-old participant, told NAN that she travelled from Benin City to participate in the event.
Chiedozi said she had been practicing the art for 18 years and added that it had contributed majorly to her youthful looks and health.
“I started practicing yoga at the age of 60, it is yoga that has made me look the way I do and I still wear my high heels.
“I went into yoga because I was going to be depressed on retirement but yoga made it possible for me to look into myself, have peace, be fit and be relaxed, I just love myself and people around me.
“With yoga, you do not lose your temper and are at peace with yourself,” she said.
Another participant, Mr AbdulMalik Badamasuiy told NAN that practicing yoga made an individual an “ambassador of peace”.
Badamasuiy said one had to be disciplined to be able to practice yoga, adding that it was beneficial to one’s total well-being.
“I was in India for some time and one of the fundamental training we were given was yoga sessions, from six till seven every morning; it is just a discipline of the mind, a journey within and without.
“It is not so popular in Africa because it has to do with cultural orientation; yoga is very technical and it is not like other common exercises and it had to do with harmonising your inner self and mind discipline that is why you have a trainer to help you with it initially.
“When you have settled all your difficulties from within you relate with your world on a happy note and you can be an ambassador of peace,” he said.
NAN reports that yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of body and consciousness.
Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.
The theme for the 2017 celebration, organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN is “Yoga for Health”.
The theme highlights the fact that yoga can contribute in a holistic way to achieving equilibrium between mind and body
The theme also highlights the contribution of yoga to the quest to achieve sustainable development and move toward lifestyles that are in harmony with nature. (NAN)
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Edited by Ese E. Ekama