Yoga not confined to a particular religion: Gen V K Singh

Amid criticism from some quarters over the Centre's decision to celebrate June 21 as International Yoga Day, Union Minister V K Singh today said Yoga is not confined to a particular religion and is a scientific creation.
"...I find it very odd at times when lot of people try to confine Yoga to a religious thought...Yoga is not confined to a particular religion...Yoga is scientific and it is meant to ensure that our 'achar-vichar'(mind) and 'sharir' (body), all this becomes much better," Singh, who is the Minister of State in External Affairs Ministry said addressing a Yoga convention here.
"We feel that it (Yoga) is a great thing that something which has been a part of our culture and part of our scientific system has been accepted by most of the world and there are large number of countries where citizens practise yoga," he said.

"I have served Army for 42 years and having imbibed a philosophy that all religions are equal and must be respected...I find that Hinduism is more of philosophy than a religion and it is a way of life," the former Army Chief said.
Advising people to practise Yoga from a young age, Singh said "you will able to perform better and we have to be regular at practising yoga."
According to him, Yoga has three components.
"One is to take care of your body, to take care of various ailments that come to the body. You graduate from there to Pranayam which is breathing exercise of various types and then you graduate to meditation so that you can bring greater peace and concentration to your mind.

"It is this combination along with your food habits that ensures that you have a healthy life and you think clearly and you are able to work for the society," the minister said.