Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has urged educational institutions to include Yoga as part of online learning programmes being conducted in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic while Prime Minister Narendra Modi observed the ancient healing system is “more relevant in the current times”.

They were speaking on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga.

“Yoga boosts immune system of the body. You must include Pranayama in your daily life. Pranayama Yoga or breathing exercises strengthens our respiratory system. It is more relevant in the current times as it is the respiratory system of the body that is most adversely affected by the Covid19 virus”, Prime Minister said while addressing the nation early on Sunday.

Today, all of us should stay away from large gathering and practice Yoga at home with our families. This year’s theme is 'Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family'. Yoga promotes family bonding as children, youngsters, elders in family come together to practise Yoga, there is a flow of positive energy in home. Yoga also promotes emotional stability, he added.

Speaking at the digital 'Yoga and Meditation Shivir' organised by SPIC MACAY on the occasion of International Day of Yoga, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said Yoga is a unique gift of India to the world which is successfully transforming millions of lives around the globe.

He said children must be introduced to Yoga at a young age. “I am glad that ‘UNICEF Kid Power’ has listed 13 Yoga stretches and poses for children,” he added.

Observing that the 5,000-year-old Yoga tradition is not a mere workout, he said: "It is a science that emphasizes balance, poise, grace, equanimity, peace and harmony". Various components of Yoga such as postures, breathing exercises and meditation techniques together help in bringing about a positive transformation in the human body and mind in innumerable ways, he added.

Calling for large-scale scientific experimentation to further explore the immense possibilities of Yoga as a wellness solution, Naidu said Yoga as a mode of therapy or Yog Chikitsa has become extremely popular. He said a large number of studies offer scientific evidence for its potential to treat a number of diseases.