Make yoga, meditation way of life

 Kathmandu, June 22: International Yoga Day has been celebrated around the world since June 21, 2015 with the belief of holistic approach to health and wellness and it is also being practiced with importance in Nepal.

On the occasion of International Yoga Day, various Ashrams in Kathmandu organised different Yoga programmes with much vigour.

Participating in the Yoga Day celebration organised by Art of Living, Nepal in Kathmandu, Minister for Youth and Sports Maheshwar Jung Gahatraj said that the development of technology and science has made human lifestyle easier but  it has also adversely affected  people. To address negativity and depression, developed countries have incorporated Yoga into their daily lifestyles. Now Nepalis also need to include Yoga and meditation in their lifestyle.

Yoga should be given the same importance as education, culture, sports, tourism, and health and it should be included in the curriculum, Minister Gahatraj said. According to spiritual Guru Dr. Yogi Vikasananda, Yoga is not only a physical exercise but also ‘Pranayama’ and ‘Meditation’. Overall, Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation solve physical and mental problems and they teach people the right way to live.

The Pranayama (breathing process) provides more oxygen to the human brain, which is the most element for the brain, he added. He further added that when the brain receives enough oxygen, it releases glucose from the brain and produces more energy. 

When there is a lack of energy in the brain, it becomes foggy, cannot think creatively and the lack of oxygen in the brain results in fear, confusion and anxiety, added Dr. Yogi Vikasananda.

Yogi Vikashnanda has the opinion that breathing exercises are essential to nurture and nourish the brain, physical Yoga helps to solve health problems but Pranayama and Meditation help to solve all kinds of problems.

“Yoga is playing a pivotal role in solving psychological problems in today’s toxic world and this is the main time to use Yoga and make it a lifestyle. Yoga should be included in the curriculum and the government is gradually working to promote Yoga in Nepal as well,” he added. Purna Tej Guru from Art of Living International Ashram in Bangalore said that Yoga is a mixture of spiritualism and science and it teaches how to live a balanced life with a calm mind.

Gita Aryal of Baneshwor has been doing Yoga and Meditation continuously for 18 years. She said, “Yoga always makes me excited, it never makes me feel sad and depressed, it helps me to develop a pro-active attitude. I have high blood pressure but Yoga and Meditation control my physical problems.”

Similarly, 59-year-old Anuradha Khakurel of Old Baneshwor has been practicing yoga for 20 years. When she went to Delhi, India, she saw older women teaching and practicing Yoga, which inspired her to practice Yoga.

“I had gastritis, uterine problems, leg swelling and overweight but Yoga has helped me to reduce all my physical and mental ailments,” she added.

Revati Tiwari from Bauddha has been practicing Yoga for four years. She said that Yoga helps her in relaxing the body and calming the mind.

President of Nepal Youth Association Mohan Lamsal said that Yoga is not only a part of spirituality but also a part of science. He believes that many diseases like cancer can be cured through Yoga and Meditation. Yoga is also associated with tourism and many Nepalis are studying it at international universities by paying expensive fees.

Therefore, as Yoga is an Eastern philosophy, he urged the government to establish a Yoga University in Nepal, which helps bring tourists and develop Nepal as a hub of Yoga tourism. 

The idea of Yoga International Day was first projected by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on 27 September 2014. Later, on December 11, 2014, the UNGA affirmed June 21 to be observed as International Yoga Day. Then since 2015, it has been marked worldwide.