Bhopal, Jan 12 (ANI): The Madhya Pradesh government has made yoga and ‘Surya Namaskar,’ the “sun-salutation,” an integral part of school curriculum, despite political opposition.
To mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh issued guidelines to schools on the Sun salutation.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Yoga is one aspect that should ideally not attract opposition from any quarter.
He insisted that yoga and such health programs should be encouraged.
“A sound body and a sound mind are pre-requisites for all successful activities. Yoga is a healthy way of living. Nothing can be better than introducing yoga amongst the students,” said Chouhan.
He said that yoga would be made compulsory in schools from the next session.
Chouhan said that even if a few hundreds vowed to practise yoga regularly, it would be a great achievement.
While the government says the move is to bring about a healthy lifestyle among the youth, the opposition parties have condemned the move bringing to notice the pathetic state of schools and the increasing dropout rate.
Authorities contend that for the first time hundreds of thousands of students participated in a mass health campaign.
“I am very happy that I am practicing yoga. It helps keep fit with a sound mind and body,” said Chanchal, a participant at the health camp.
Yoga comprises the practice of asanas or postures and includes disciplines of asceticism and meditation, which are thought to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence. (ANI)