'Yoga facilitates balance between intellect, emotions'

“Yoga is the best measure to prevent all kinds of diseases,” noted Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader as he inaugurated the International workshop on Yogic science conducted by the Department of Human Consciousness and Yogic Sciences and Dharmanidhi Yogapeetha in association with Wonkwang Digital University Korea at Mangalore University here on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, which included 30 students from the Korean Wonkwang Digital University who have come to Mangalore University to learn the art of Yoga, Khader spoke about the importance of Yoga as the factor that provides an individual, the strength to be able to work more. “As a minister, my intention is to build less hospitals and promote healthy practices,” he said adding that Indians should be proud of Indian traditional medicine. He also urged the students from Korea to be brand ambassadors in promoting Yogic science.

Yoga brings balance  

Speaking on the occasion, eminent yoga expert Dr Mukund Vinayak Bhole explained the science of Yoga. Mentioning the various forms of Yoga and its uses, he said that yoga facilitates a balance whenever there is an imbalance between human intellect and human emotions. “Exercise, games and sports essentially place emphasis on the non breathing movements of an individual while Yoga focuses on good postures and the ability to transcend body awareness, placing emphasis on the behaviour and functioning of breathing,” he added. 

Speaking on the present situation in the globalised world, he said that people face a lot of stress in their life owing to different factors. The question is how they overcome this stress. “Some overcome it using medical assistance like sedatives while some use non medical assistance like drinking, smoking, sex and drugs which is more common. The Yogic approach helps one in getting over this stress by getting connected to oneself and that is far more helpful in the longer run,” he added.

Prof Jong Soon Seo (from South Korea), a former student of Banaras University, narrated her experience while studying in India and also about the history of Yoga and its origin in Korea. “In our university, Yoga is influenced by Wong Buddhism,” she said and appreciated the city of Mangalore and the spirit of brotherhood she experienced here.

 “This workshop is a good link between two universities as well as two cultures and I am grateful and honoured to be here,” she added and stressed upon how they can make history with this link between two cultures. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, one of the participants of the worskshop Seo Kyongja, said that she was fascinated by the history of Mangalore University and the hospitality she has recieved here.  “The students here are kind and energetic,” she said and spoke about their schedule at the workshop. “I met the yoga instructors here and every morning and evening we have practical sessions while in the afternoon we have theory. I am very happy with the way the workshop is going,” she added.

Presiding over the inauguration, Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankara Murthy spoke on the progress the Yogic science department has made in this University since it was started in 1983. “The practice of yoga has always been something that Indians proudly cherish. It was in India that Yoga started and flourished to a great extent and Indians must be aware of the importance of Yoga in this modern world of stress and competition,” he said. 

Organising Secretary and Department Head Dr K Krishna Sharma welcomed the gathering and gave a brief outline of the programme.