Lonavala: Kaivalyadhama, the 80-year-old
Yoga institute, in its sixth international conference today
stressed the need to impart the knowledge of yoga at school
level across the country.
Yoga that has become increasingly popular both in India
and abroad today saw over 1,200 delegates from India as well
as across the world, including France, Thailand, Argentina and
Canada among others, attending the three-day event on 'Yoga
Research and Cultural Synthesis' at Kaivalyadhama in Lonavala.
Professor Veda Prakash, Vice-Chairman, University Grants
Commission (UGC), said, "Yoga still has to make deeper inroads
in schools and colleges as a practical training but in a
proper channelised manner. Today, it only helps in keeping
oneself physically fit but also maintaining mental and
emotional balance."
UGC has also announced grants for the propagation of yoga
in colleges. All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE)
is also taking steps to promote yoga in institutions under it,
said Prakash.
Yogic experts across North America, South America, Europe
and Asia, who were present at the conference felt that
yoga is helping citizens across the world to enhance their
spiritual, physical and mental health.
"In the US, more than six per cent of Americans practice
yoga. Most of the health care institutions and hospitals (in
US) are having a separate department on yogic research. Yogic
education is getting a fair amount of academic space in
schools and colleges," said Dr Sat Bir Khalsa of Harvard
Medical School.
Paul Dallanghan, Director, Centered Yoga Institute,
Thailand said, "Lots of people in western countries are eager
to learn the traditional method of yoga. It has been observed
that people across all lines including poor, rich, educated,
uneducated, employed or unemployed are practising yoga."
PTI
First Published: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 23:39