Indian High Commission launches Yoga Day activities

One event is scheduled to be held on June 18 at the Boardwalk in Chaguaramas from 6 - 8 am and another on June 25 at the Divali Nagar in Chaguanas from 9.30 am to 3 pm.

The events are also being held in collaboration with the United Nations and the government of Trinidad and Tobago to bring awareness to the population.

Among the other events is a yoga awareness campaign by local schools from June 17 - 26.

Speaking at a launch held at the Normandie Hotel in St.

Ann’s on Monday evening, Bishwadip Dey, High Commissioner of India spoke about yoga.

“Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body,” Dey said.

“It is an art and science for healthy living. Yoga works on the level of one’s body, mind, emotion and energy.” He then spoke of the benefits of yoga including, for physical fitness, musculoskeletal functioning and cardio-vascular health, and beneficial in the management of diabetes, respiratory disorders, hypertension and many lifestyle-related disorders.

Yoga, he said, also helps to reduce depression, fatigue, anxiety disorders and stress, regulates menopausal symptoms and, in essence, yoga is a process of creating a body and mind that are stepping-stones not hurdles, to an exuberant and fulfilling life.

Deoroop Teemal, chairman of IDYTT said participants in the Boardwalk exercise will not be talking. They will participate in the salutation to the sun, do breathing exercises, indulge in some relaxation, then mingle if they so desire.

However at the Nagar site, after the inaugural ceremony, focus will be placed on two youths who will be honoured for their contribution to yoga.

After lunch there will be a lecture followed by three interactive workshops. Ayana John, health officer at the Ministry of Health, brought greetings from her Ministry and expressed its support for the yoga programme, while local female boxer Ria Ramnarine endorsed the yoga events, vowing to incorporate yoga into her boxing programme as she said it will benefit her athletes.