20 June, Kathmandu: People today spend a lot of time craving for peace in mind and suppleness in body while it is hard to fine one who does not care about his/her health at a time when the hazards in our food as well as environment are growing by the day. Though it is hard to find a quick fix to all such concerns, there is in fact a medicine for peaceful mind and flexible body, for our beauty or build, or for improved energy or increased immunity, which is easily accessible and almost available for free and that is – Yoga.
It may sound more like an advertisement to talk of Yoga benefits. But, it is difficult to deny the reality, which has been recognized almost around the globe. And to validate that, the entire world is marking June 21 as the first UN International Day of Yoga. The Day is being marked at the call of the United Nations under the slogan- ‘Yoga for harmony and peace’.
And the Day also makes it more pertinent to us as Nepalis and South Asians, as it was our Prime Minister Sushil Koirala who seconded the Indian Prime Minister’s proposal at the UN General Assembly last year to mark the UN International Day of Yoga on June 21.
Giving a message on the occasion of the first UN International Day of Yoga, UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon said, “Yoga is an ancient discipline from a traditional setting that has grown in popularity to be enjoyed by practitioners in every region. By proclaiming 21 June as the International Day of Yoga, the General Assembly has recognized the holistic benefits of this timeless practice and its inherent compatibility with the principles and values of the United Nations.”
UN Secretary General’s message itself indicates how important the Yoga has been to us. About its importance, his message reads- Yoga offers a simple, accessible and inclusive means to promote physical and spiritual health and well-being. It promotes respect for one’s fellow human beings and for the planet we share. And yoga does not discriminate; to varying degrees, all people can practice, regardless of their relative strength, age or ability.
Moreover, during a recent visit to India, Secretary General Ban displayed some postures of the yoga. He suggests us to mark the International Day of Yoga to improve public health, promote peaceful relations and usher in a life of dignity for all. The message is indeed an inspiration for all of us to improve our health, foster harmonious relations and build better community through Yoga.
Talking of Yoga in Nepal, it was limited to very few people till the recent past years and decades too, as if it suits handful of people as to the rishis (sage, hermits) centuries back. Nowadays, you can find many yoga centres in every nook and corner of the country. The awareness on importance of yoga as of late however goes largely to Indian yoga practitioner Baba Ramdev who has already conducted his mass yoga camps twice in Tundikhel in the capital.
The most adaptable aspect of yoga is- it can be done by the people of all ages- child, adult, and old. Similarly, it neither needs big space nor other helpers to assist. The yoga is simply the stretching of limbs and body in different postures on a regular basis- every morning.
Writer, educationist, spiritualist and Chairman of Jeevan Vigyan Centre of Kathmandu, Mr LP Bhanu Sharma says, “Yoga is not that rigorous physical exercise. It is calisthenics to make us energetic, dynamic and flexible.” According to him, Yoga is all- preventive, palliative, and curative medicine to various bodily diseases, while the allopathic medicine has numerous side effects.
Despite this, we need very quick response and recovery and frequent the medicine shops even for minor ailment. Huge money is spent to cure different diseases, which however can be prevented with Yoga. Yoga practitioners like Mr Sharma are of the view that people can treat themselves, and cure many ills. Yoga brings tremendous positive change in our lives as it integrates body, mind and soul.
As a country proposing the UN to announce the Yoga Day, India has made massive preparations to celebrate the first UN Yoga Day on June 21. There are news stories rife that the Indian government has mobilized its entire machinery to make the Yoga Day a special day, with unconfirmed reports also stating that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is an avid yoga practitioner, will be leading members of his staff for a yoga session on the morning of the Yoga Day.
Nepal, being a place of spiritual practice and the abode of rishimunis doing yoga and meditation, too needs to heed the importance of the yoga. As Chairman of the Jeevan Vigyan Centre Sharma argues it has been very late to initiate formal classes of yoga with formulation of government policy on it. Yoga is the invaluable asset of Nepal.
Questioned about the yoga practice abroad, he said it is the Pashupat yoga (the yoga practiced in Nepal in the ancient time) that has spread all across the globe at present. Notable Hollywood and Bollyhood stars have followed Yoga to keep themselves in shape and for peace in the mind.
However, it is unfortunate that gyms and fitness centres are mushrooming in the urban centres of the country with not much attention given to this traditional form of physical exercise, which costs peanuts in compared to the modern form of exercise. People, especially in the urban centres, are found spending huge amount of money to lose weight with not much of success. However, following Yoga would help one to not only away shed unnecessary weight from one’s body but also negativity and stress.
As a result, the government should in fact promote Yoga through a clear-cut policy right from the schools so as to keep its citizens healthy and peaceful. It would not only save the country millions of rupees in medical treatment but Yoga classes would help us bring foreign tourists, who are have been attracted to it right around the globe.
Our septuagenarian Prime Minister was seen some weeks back very enthusiastically and sportingly leading a team of political leaders in a friendly football match against cine artists and one would wonder whether he will be seen doing the same on Sunday at least with his ministers behind him practising yoga before the public, to promote this traditional practice of calisthenics and mark the opening of the first ever International Day of Yoga. RSS
