CHENNAI: Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation, is planning a massive yoga-teaching drive, in the run up to International Yoga Day on June 21, aiming to reach 1.5 crore students in India alone.
The sadhguru launched the celebrations in Chennai on Sunday with 4,500 in attendance at the YMCA grounds in Royapettah. The sadhguru, who will be addressing a gathering at the United Nations on June 20 and 21 said, “Our endeavour will cover six continents and 80 countries, including our neighbours Nepal, Singapore, South Korea and China.”
As part of the Chennai chapter, those present were trained in the classic ‘Upa yoga,’ a style simple enough to be done while sitting in your office chair, according to the sadhguru.
The Ministry of Ayush has partnered with the Isha Foundation to implement the large scale plan. In Tamil Nadu alone, teaching sessions are underway to equip over 11,500 volunteers to reach out to 6,000 schools, colleges, Universities, NGOs, government offices and even prisons.
“We will definitely put a focus on Corporation schools,” Vasudev emphasised, adding that, “This is not a one-day affair and will go on for a few months.”
A special initiative is also underway to train physical education teachers in yoga on a regular basis in districts like Erode, Dharmapuri, Salem, Cuddalore, Kanchipuram and Puduchery, among others. With a focus on the youth this year, it will not just be adults learning to teach yoga but children as well. Vasudev made a reference to the youngest master trainer that has come out of the Isha Foundation in Chandigarh,
“Her name is Khushi and she is all of 11 years old,” he told the crowd. For those who believe this practice is for arthritic senior citizens, Vasudev responds with a laugh, “We must equip ourselves with tools for well being as early as possible. Do it when life is ahead of you, not behind.”