After Yoga, now Surya-Namaskar for global consumption

Aiming to take 'Surya-Namaskar', the ancient Indian exercise cum 'Sadhana' in worship of the Sun god, to an international level attained by 'Yoga', the medical fraternity here has undertaken a novel project from tomorrow (January 24).

As many as 500 doctors in the city would do 12 'Namaskaras' every day for one year at a school ground here under the aegis of Indian Medical Association (IMA) to generate scientific data relating to the health benefits of the posture involving all body parts.

Describing the venture as the first of its kind in the country, Dr Dilip Sarda, president of IMA, Pune branch, said that at the end of 365 days the participating medicos, who include two who have undergone by-pass heart surgery, would be reassessed for health parameters to record the changes since they started doing the 'Surya-Namaskars'.

What we want to establish at the global level, is the importance of this unique age-old Indian exercise dedicated to the Sun god as per vedic verses, in its relevance to fitness in the present era where life-style diseases like diabetes and blood pressure are on the rise, Dr Sarda said.

"The ten minute drill to be undertaken to complete 12 Namaskars will done to the tune calming music chanting 12 names of the Sun as mentioned in the Vedic hymns," he added.

The 'Namaskaras' are known to significantly increase human body's three "S" ---- namely, Suppleness, Stamina and Strength. 

The participants in the year-long demonstrative drill will include male and female medical professionals falling under the age group of 30-80 who would be monitored throughout for pulse rate, blood pressure, Body-Mass Index (BMI), cholesterol, blood sugar, body fats and lipid profile.

Well known orthopedic surgeon Dr K H Sancheti too will be actively involved in the IMA project for which a random selection process for the participating doctors was adopted, Dr Sarda said.

A detailed analysis of the effects of the 'Namaskaras' on the participants would be made by the year end for submission of scientific data at the proper forum.

The conceptualisation of the project was done after noted cardiologist Dr K B Grant advised IMA to research the ancient 'Surya Namaskaras' to offer an alternative fitness regimen without aping the West, he said.