NEW DELHI, May 6: Buoyed by the success of International Yoga Day celebrated in 191 countries last year, the Government today told Lok Sabha that it intends to harness the global yoga market to the tune of 4 billions dollars by turning the country into a top Yoga tourism destination.
“The celebration of International Yoga Day on 21 June last year was a spectacular success as the event was celebrated in 191 countries simultaneously.
Our Government is planning that India will take lead in Yoga and transform the country into a most preferred Yoga tourism destination,” Shripad Yesso Naik, the Minster of State for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy(AYUSH), said during Question Hour. Mr Naik also informed that an advisory has been sent to schools to include Yoga in curriculum but it not being made compulsory. “We have advised schools to incorporate Yoga in the curriculum, but it is optional. Alternately they can make it a part of Physical Education,” the Minister said.
Observing that the most diseases had psychosomatic origin(mental state triggering disease in body) a Member wanted to know whether the Government planned to open a “Yoga Institute of Mind.” To this the Minister quipped,”Bada achcha sawaal hai. Aap pehle Yoga kijeye, Yoga karne ke baad aap mehsoos karenge ki aisi institute ki koi zaroorat nahi(Very good question! You do Yoga first. After doing Yoga, you will feel that there is no need of such institute.” (UNI)