The second edition of National Health Editors’ Conference on Yoga
was inaugurated by Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge), Shri
Shripad Yesso Naik at National media Centre in New Delhi today. The conference
was organized by Ministry of AYUSH in association with the Press Information
Bureau (PIB), M/o Information & broadcasting; and Central Council for
Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (M/o AYUSH) as a part of celebrations of the 3rd International Day of Yoga on 21st June, 2017. The theme of this year’s
conference was “Yoga for Health and Harmony”.
Addressing the participants, Shri Shripad Naik said that the
International Day of Yoga is perhaps the only occasion where people across the
globe come together in such a large number and take active participation. The
interest and zeal of participation in yoga is increasing considerably year by
year due to which today yoga has become a household name in the real sense, the
Minister added. Shri Shripad Naik said that the credit of increasing popularity
of yoga also goes to media may it be print, electronic or social media.
The AYUSH Minister stated that yoga has earned the global
recognization in promoting positive health among people. Since treatments in
the modern media hospitals are becoming expensive affairs for the people, yoga
is gradually making new inroads into the health care system, he elaborated. The
Minister further stated that yoga not only makes people healthy but also helps
to reduce the burden on the health care delivery system of the country.
Replying to queries from the media, Shri Shripad Naik disclosed that
CCRYN is conducting a mega multicentric research study on efficacy of yoga on
diabetes in which around 2.50 lakhs people have been screened and the
preliminary results of this research study are very encouraging. Replying to
another question, Shri Naik said that as per survey conducted by ASSOCHAM,
there is an increase of 30% in the practitioners of yoga since last two years. Even
in foreign countries, there is an average increase of more than 15% in number
of persons practicing yoga, he added.
Secretary AYUSH, Shri C. K. Mishra briefed the media persons about
the activities being organized this year to celebrate the International Day of
Yoga 2017. The Secretary said that every State will organize yoga events at the
State/District/Sub-District level. The Ministry of AYUSH has also sought
participation by educational institutions as well as trade bodies, he said.
Giving introduction to the Health Editors’ Conference, Principal
Director General, PIB, Shri Frank Noronha said that the objective of the
conference is to spread awareness about principles and practices of yoga for
our well being. The conference was designed in such a way to bring out the
scientific and technical aspects of yoga with the help of experts, Shri Noronha
explained.
Around
150 Health Editors and media persons from National, Regional and International
media organizations attended the conference. Senior officers of PIB and
Ministry of AYUSH were also present on the occasion.
Three eminent experts of yoga and modern Medicine presented
highlights from recent research works on aspects of yoga. The experts were as
follows:
I.
Dr. K. K. Deepak, AIIMS, New Delhi spoke
on Yoga and Stress management
II.
Dr. R. S. Bhogal, Kaivalyadhama, Pune
talked about Yoga and Mental Health
III.
Dr. Hemant Bhargava, SVYASA, Bangalore gave
lecture on Yoga and Diabetes
A ‘Z-Card’, containing the yoga protocol in brief was released on
the occasion. A small compendium ‘Yoga for depression’ containing selected
research papers was also released today.
There was also experience sharing by a beneficiary who has seen a
tremendous improvement in her medical condition after adopting yoga. This was
followed by a live demo of various yoga asanas by a yoga expert.
The entire conference was live streamed on PIB website including
YouTube channel of PIB, PIB Facebook & PIB Twitter.
*****
NB/UD
