THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Not just yoga, right food and good heart are necessary to maintain a healthy life, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. “What makes yoga different from other exercises is its ability to develop a healthy mind along with a healthy body. Healthy lifestyle, good food and good heart are essential to lead a healthy life,” he said. Pinarayi was speaking after inaugurating the International Yoga Day celebrations organised by the Yoga Association of Kerala here on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister exhorted yoga trainers to focus on grooming good hearts along with sound bodies. The government is taking steps to popularise yoga at the school level. Spiritualist and yoga acharya Sri M, chief guest at the function, said yoga is not for a particular religion or section. Yoga has a good effect on the endocrine system and is also helpful in controlling anger. Pinarayi released ‘Chethana Yoga,’ a book brought out by Chintha Publishers, at the function.
O Rajagopal MLA, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, KTDC chairman M Vijayakumar, Sports Council president T P Dasan, CPM leader Anavoor Nagappan, association office-bearers Balachandran, Rajeev, Sasidharan and Gopan spoke.
‘Resist bid to link yoga with religion’
T’Puram: Yoga is not a religious practice and attempts to link it with religion should be resisted, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Wednesday. The Chief Minister was inaugurating the International Yoga Day celebrations and the state-level yoga training programme organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare at the Central Stadium here. “Yoga is a form of exercise intended for overall wellness. It should be seen only in that context,” the Chief Minister said, adding yoga should be practised with a secular mindset. Pinarayi said there are attempts from some quarters to hijack yoga by uttering certain religious verses. Even before the advent of such verses, yoga was in existence, he said. The Chief Minister said a comprehensive programme for yoga instruction in schools will be rolled out soon. Health Minister K K Shylaja and Health Secretary Rajeev Sadanandan also spoke. This was followed by a yoga demonstration and training.