Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jun 21: As the entire nation and the world celebrates the first International Day of Yoga, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has said that he has directed the state education ministers (primary and higher) to include yoga in school and college curriculums.
He was speaking at a special yoga camp at White Orchids in Manyata Tech Park in the city's northeast suburb.
"Yoga helps in maintaining good health, and it does not have any side effects. Yoga is essential for a healthy body and mind. It is important to create awareness on yoga among children, hence I have asked the education ministers to include yoga in school and college curriculums," said Siddaramaiah.
"It is not important how long we live, what is important is how healthy and content we are in our lives. Yoga is very essential in order to live a healthy life. I am saying this from experience," he added.
"Karnataka has a close relationship with yoga. Krishnamachary, Ayyar, Malladihalli Raghavedra Swamiji and others have played a key role in taking yoga to international level. Yoga has evolved simultaneously with human existence. Though yoga originated in India, it has gained much popularity in several foreign countries. This indicates the way it has attracted people all over the world," the CM said.
CM, Shilpa Shetty lead Yoga Day celebration in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Jun 21 (IANS): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty participated in a state-level event here to mark the inaugural International Yoga Day on Sunday, with over 10,000 people performing yoic exercises.
"Yoga is for peace, yoga is for health and yoga is for harmony," Siddaramaiah told 10,000 yoga enthusiasts at Kanteerava stadium here.
Children from many schools, nurses from hospitals and policemen from Karnataka State Reserve Police Force attended the event.
Earlier, the chief minister participated in the Yoga Day celebration at the Vidhan Soudha for an hour in which many bureaucrats also joined in.
Shetty, who demonstrated Vrikshasan and other postures, advised everyone to practice yoga for a healthy life.
Later, Shetty tweeted: "Enjoyed a great yoga session under the sky with 10,000 people joining me in doing the asanas. What a historic day. Happy International Yoga Day."
Elsewhere in the city, the Art of Living Foundation also celebrated the day at its international centre where about 500 people participated and performed Hatha Yoga.
The programme was followed up with a yoga dance performed by as many as 1,000 school students.