City gears up for a day of health, fitness

Tribune news service

Amritsar, June 20

The International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21 will be a display of the power of ‘asanas’ and ancient art of yoga, which has been gifted by India to the world.

Yoga has always been presented as the best way towards staying physically, mentally and spiritually fit. And the city has adopted the ancient art in both ways — traditionally and modernly.

Flexible as its asanas, yoga has been improvised technically. Contemporary fitness forms have been merged with it off late. Whether its yogalates, power yoga, nude yoga or water yoga, every technique uses the same working concept, say experts.

“Yoga is for everyone. Its different versions are just tailor-made techniques to suit individual form of fitness. The basic principle behind it remains the same that uses the energy from the body to rejuvenate and utilise the body’s strength,” says Sabhayata Mehra, a city-based yoga expert.

Amritsar has had a long association with yoga in the form of the Yog Sadhna Ashram at Gol Bagh. Teaching traditional yoga with meditative and therapeutic asanas, the institution is a training ground for yoga lovers.

“Contrary to the popular belief, Yoga is one of the toughest forms of fitness. The asanas draw the negative energy out of the body and leave behind only positive energy. It adds discipline to life while weeding out toxins and disease from the body. It is also effective in strength and endurance training. It also increases immunity. The meditative asanas in yoga test the mental strength and rejuvenate the senses,” says Ajay, a yoga trainer at the ashram.

Sabhyata says traditional forms of yoga that are therapeutic and meditative are preferred by the older generation while the more energetic modifications like freestyle fitness yoga are for the younger generation. Knowing the effective results of yoga, even schools and educational institutions have included it as a necessary fitness routine for students.

Bhavan’s SL School held a yoga camp for its students, their families and staff. Educating students about yoga and its history, the camp was hosted in line with the Yoga Day celebrations.

Ramnik Sharma (75), a resident of Putlighar, vouches for the benefits of yoga. “I have been doing yoga for the past 35 years. I believe that yoga has proved to be a boon for my health. With discipline, it also helps me calm down whenever I feel stressed.”

Meanwhile, the administration will also be breathing some healthy air by hosting a special yoga camp at Guru Nanak Stadium on International Yoga Day.

The DC, along with his hierarchy of officials, will be indulging in some asanas to mark the day.