Chandigarh June 19: Ahead of the sixth International Day of Yoga, Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal today urged people of the State to practise Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family, due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
“This year, since the International Yoga day is being celebrated amidst a health emergency, it is important to ensure that all measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are practised”, he said.
The Chief Minister was addressing International Yoga Webinar on the topic 'Yoga for World Health’ which was organized jointly by Shri Krishna Ayush University Kurukshetra and Haryana Yoga Council held through video conferencing here today. This year, let us practise yoga and give the message of unity to the world and achieve the goal of world peace, he added.
On this occasion, Haryana Health Minister, Mr. Anil Vij participated in the webinar and Shri Gyananand Ji Maharaj and Yog Guru Baba Ramdev also shared their views on the importance of Yoga in everyone’s life.
In his address, the Chief Minister said, "As we know that due to COVID-19 Pandemic, everyone has to observe the day from the confines of their homes. Practising Yoga in this hour of crisis certainly provides multi-dimensional solutions to many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He said that every year on June 21, several yoga programmes were organized in the State, country and other countries, but this time due to the global COVID-19 Pandemic, everyone has to ensure their participation while sitting at home.
He further said that Yoga is not a new practise, rather it is an integral part of our culture and everyone should practise the ancient Indian discipline lifelong. He said that with the dedicated efforts made by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi Yoga has got a new identity worldwide. Since June 21, 2015, everyone in the world enthusiastically participates in the International Yoga day. He said that the legacy of Yoga is also being carried forward by Yog Guru Baba Ramdev.
He said that the Haryana Government is also committed to publicize Yoga continuously. He said that gymnasiums have been set up in villages for yoga and about 1000 yoga teachers have been appointed in these gymnasiums. Besides this, Yoga has also been included in the curriculum so that the children at school level only can understand the importance of yoga.
He said that there are eight limbs of yoga are yama (abstinences), niyama (observances), asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption). When a person adopts these 8 limbs, then the real benefit of yoga will be achieved.
"Yoga is not only necessary for physical strength but also has its own importance for attaining peace of mind. Therefore everyone should include yoga in their routine. Yoga is the key to find peace in our stressful lives", He said.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family welfare, Mr. Rajeev Arora and Padma Shri Dr. Nagendra, Dr. Sat Bir S. Khalsa, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Dr Indranill Basu from America, Dr. Ishwar Basavaraddi, Director of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of AYUSH, Dr. Sushil Sharma from America and Dr. Akshay Anand Senior Scientist PGI Chandigarh also participated in the webinar.