Include Yoga in school courses to build a healthy nation: Naidu

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today emphasised upon the need to include Yoga in school curriculum to "create a healthy nation."Participating in an International Yoga Day event here in suburban Bandra, Naidu said the ancient Indian discipline is an invaluable gift to the world from India and asked people to make it the part of their lives to fight modern health problems."The time has come to introduce yoga as part of the school curriculum so that India becomes a nation of healthy and happy people in the coming years," he said."The practice of Yoga is important for positive thoughts. If it is included in the school curriculum it is possible to create a healthy nation. Yoga also helps in relief from stress due to the changing lifestyles," Naidu said.Apart from enhancing physical and mental agility, Yoga practice helps a person adopt a balanced attitude towards life, he said.Outlining the importance of Yoga in daily life, Naidu said the worrisome trend of the youngsters resorting to extreme steps like ending their lives can be curbed if they develop a sense of equanimity and calm, which can be developed through Yoga and meditation.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who tooheld various yoga 'asanas' at the event, said the ancient science of Yoga is important in the modern day world.At another event at the Marine Drive in south Mumbai, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the International Day of Yoga is being celebrated in almost 190 countries worldwide.Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao too took part in a special Yoga session at the Raj Bhavan here and called for blending of science and spirituality to create a humane and caring society."The power of spirituality can be harnessed to address some of the challenges like violence, stress, cruelty and corruption faced by the society," he said, speaking at the launch of the International Ahinsa Research and Training Institute of Spiritual Technology on the occasion of the Yoga Day.As many as 15,000 Navy personnel and their family members too rolled out their mats to hold various 'asanas' today on the Yoga Day.The personnel stretched themselves not only on decks of ships but also in submarines beneath the waters, following the ancient Indian discipline.Yoga camps were conducted by instructors of the Navy under the guidance of experts from various organisations, a Defence spokesperson said.Some Navy personnel performed exercises on the decommissioned aircraft carrier 'Viraat', he said.The personnel deputed on submarines also conducted yoga activities beneath the sea despite space constraints, the release said.Meanwhile, the Department of Post (Maharashtra and Goa circle) also celebrated the Yoga Day by releasing 12 picture post cards on the 12 postures of Surya Namaskar at an event held at the General Post Office here.The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) celebrated the day by organising yoga events in which 1.25 lakh students from civic schools participated."The civic body held yoga sessions at 44 places, in which 1.25 lakh students studying in BMC schools took part under the guidance of 15,000 teachers," a BMC official said.

Include Yoga in school courses to build a healthy nation: Naidu

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