Omkar Dattatray
The world will be celebrating 5th International day of Yoga on 21st of June, 2019. Therefore, we should make efforts to include Yoga education in school curriculum. It has been aptly said years ago that if wealth is lost nothing is lost; if health is lost something is lost and if character is lost everything is lost. This postulate is as valid today as it was in the good ancient days. For a good health, sound body and mind – yoga is necessary as it helps to keep us physically and mentally fit. Besides yoga keeps our character formation Therefore, yoga does not only keep us physically and psychologically fit and strong, it also helps in character formulation. so yoga education is necessary for students and youth and as such should be imparted in schools, colleges and universities throughout the country. A nation is great not because of its material prowess only but because of strong physical and mental human beings.
Thus, material progress only cannot make a nation great but it is the physical, mental and character fitness which can make a nation great. For this it is imperative that yoga education be made an important part of school curriculum and yoga education is given in educational institutions. This will help us in building strong and desirable personalities who can contribute in the progress of the country. For the development of human personality there should be sound mind in the sound body and this is possible by imparting yoga in educational institutions. No doubt Indian PM Narendra Modi was successful in attracting the attention of the global community towards yoga and now 21th June which is also the birthday of saint cum philosopher Swami Vivekananda is celebrated as the International day of Yoga every year. But at the home turf we are paying a lip service to this important issue of yoga. Alas, we fail to impart yoga in our schools and colleges as a subject of study while other countries of the world impart yoga education through school curriculum.
Therefore, it is all the more necessary and befitting to this occasion that the propounder of the yogic philosophy i.e India is not giving proper attention towards imparting of yoga education to its boys and girls. Therefore, it is all the more important to give yoga education to our young ones and for this planning should be done at the earliest. Yoga is the practical subject but its theory should also be imparted along with its practice. Implementing yoga in every school can give us lot of benefits as it helps in building all round personalities not only for children but also for adults in order to achieve a healthy life style and desirable personalities.
Practicing yoga regularity helps in keeping weight under control and increasing the flexibility of the body. As a result of the single focus to achieve a particular pose or stay balance, yoga helps children to focus and concentrate in school and get better grades. Yoga boosts self esteem and confidence and brings learning to children on experimental level. Yoga is important for all children but it has got great benefits for children with special needs such as Autism and Cerebral palsy as well as students with learning disabilities like ADHD. Some poses actually work to improve and strengthen muscles while yoga breathing helps increase lung function.
In fact for health, mental fitness and character formation yoga is indispensable. As such there is need to impart yoga education in schools, colleges and universities. For the provision of yoga education, special budgets should be earmarked and the yoga education be imparted in educational institutions on a war footing so that we are able to produce morally and physically strong men and women who will contribute to societal and national development. This is possible only if yoga education is imparted along with routine material education.
Yoga should be imparted in class rooms. It creates a calm class room environment. Yoga improves students listening skills and makes students attractive towards studies. It increases attention and interest and thus is very important for school children. Yoga increases students concentration and sharpens his memory power and makes students worthy and fruitful members of the society.
Therefore, yoga should be given importance in school curriculum meaning thereby that it should be imparted to boys and girls in schools. For this it is all the more necessary to prepare and train Yoga teachers as a first task and then only can we impart yoga in educational institutions. Yoga 4 classroom R is an evidence based yoga and mindfulness program for schools that promotes social, emotional and physical health and wellness, learning readiness and a positive school climate. By providing training and resources to support sustainable, school wide implementation, we empower schools to meet improvement goals while preparing students for a life time of success.
Some of the benefits of imparting yoga to children in schools are:
1. Reduces stress and anxiety
2. Improves memory and attention span
3. Helps to manage weight
4. Improves flexibility
5. Balance and posture
6. Teaches correct breathing techniques
7. Promotes mindfulness
8. Encourages self love and self care.
(The writer is a columnist and a social activist)
