Bhubaneswar: The state government will observe the International Day of Yoga with community participation June 21 across Odisha. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will grace an event which will be held Friday at Kalinga Stadium.
Similarly, other ministers and MLAs will also be present in different districts headquarters, blocks and municipal areas to create awareness and further popularise Yoga. On the occasion, Orissa POST talked to City- based yoga experts and tried to understand the effects of doing Yoga and how much Bhubaneswar citizens do it on a regular basis.
Priyanka Singhdeo a certified Yoga trainer said, “As per studies, practicing yoga regularly helps improve flexibility, strength, and balance. It also reduces stress, anxiety, and depression by calming the mind and promoting relaxation. Yoga encourages mindfulness and better breathing, which leads to improved focus and mental clarity.” “In Bhubaneswar, yoga is becoming increasingly popular. Many people are joining yoga classes to stay fit and manage stress. Parks and yoga studios often have groups practicing together, especially in the mornings,” she said.
“Healthier lifestyles improved well-being of the City’s residents. Overall, yoga is making a positive impact in the lives of people in Bhubaneswar, both physically and mentally. To make it more fun, there are new variations also coming up in the City like Aerial Yoga,” she added. Yoga and holistic wellness expert, Pushpanjali Senapati, said, “Yoga is not just for old and Sanyasis. It’s very much for every individual. Consistence practice of yoga brings consciousness. When we will be a conscious being, with self awareness and self discovery we can always spread positivity, growth, development, happiness, harmony in the society.”
“Being into yoga for more than 10 years, I have seen how people struggle with physical illness and mental, emotional challenges. I have got the opportunity to support and guide them with best of my knowledge where I try to inculcate the scientific and traditional approach of yoga and its impact,” she said. “In Bhubaneswar, yoga awareness is gradually increasing. Everyone is now reading, listening somewhere or other about the benefits of yoga. Even the care givers of the society i.e. doctors are suggesting yoga as a tool to maintain physical and mental health,” she added.
Kajal Satpathy, a yoga instructor and founder of Namami Yoga Academy said, “Yoga has a significant impact on both mind and body. It helps in stress reduction and helps in mental clarity and concentration. It not only reduces anxiety and depression but also helps overcome sleep disorder. It also aids in improved respiratory health, heart health and digestive health.” Pointing out benefits, health expert Amrit Pattajoshi said, “Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness, relieves chronic stress patterns and sharpens concentration. “It helps in depression alleviation, stress reduction, anxiety management, improving insomnia, improving focus and concentration, mindfulness, coping skills and resilience,” he added.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP