Mohalenyane Phakela
LESOTHO is set to join the rest of the world next Sunday in commemorating the first International Day of Yoga at Maseru Sun Cabanas.
Organised by the Indian Association of Lesotho (IAL) the commemorations are meant to promote the 6 000+-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice which originates from the subcontinent nation.
Established in 1988, IAL is as a non-profit, non-partisan and non-sectarian organisation with the primary purpose of providing a cultural and educational platform for people of Indian-descent in Lesotho.
June 21 was declared as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly last December, at the instigation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the UN General Assembly last September.
Said Prime Minister Modi: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.
“It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”
He further stated that: “Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.”
In suggesting June 21, which is the Summer Solstice, as the International Day of Yoga, Modi said the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.
From the perspective of yoga, the Summer Solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayana. The first full moon after Summer Solstice is known as Guru Poornima.
Yoga events are expected to take place across in 191 countries on Sunday, with organisers in New Delhi, India, hoping to break a world record for the most people practicing yoga, while the Reserve Bank of India has minted two special coins for the occasion.
Addressing a press conference announcing the event at the office of the High Consul of India to Lesotho, Honorary Consul of India to Lesotho, Man Mohan Bakaya, said yoga can promote a healthy lifestyle among Basotho.
“Yoga is a holistic approach to the health and well-being of a human being as it controls the mind for the welfare of the whole body,” he said.
“It brings about a healthy atmosphere, changes lifestyle and thinking so one can live in harmony.
“By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change as it is more than exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with ourselves, the world and nature.”
Local yoga guru, Raj Pullanikkatil, chipped in saying he had been practicing the discipline for more than three decades. He also said that he conducts free classes at Maseru Golf Club on weekdays. Among yoga’s benefits, Pullanikkatil said, was keeping the mind and body in sync, helping control impulse reactions, and preventing such ailments as obesity and diabetes.
“Yoga works on the level of body, mind, emotion and energy. It is broadly classified as Karma Yoga where we utilise the body, Jnana Yoga where we utilise the mind, Bhakti Yoga where we use the emotions and Kriya Yoga where energy is used,” he said
Pullanikkatil added that he would demonstrate a number of postures such as Samasthithi, Tadasana, Salabhasana and Pavanamuktasana, and which fall within the gamut of the aforementionedcategories.
He urged attendees to bring a mat, comfortable loose clothing and training shoes to the event to be able to execute the Asanas posture which entails sitting for a long time .