There is need to strengthen the yoga institutes in the country, opines Kovind

President Ramnath Kovind today inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Yoga Institute, the world’s oldest organized institute of yoga studies, which turned 100 on 25th of December this year. “Yoga exemplifies India’s soft power to the world. There is need to strengthen the yoga institutes in the country and train teachers to take forward the yoga.”, he said while addressing the masses gathered. Kovind also applauded Maharashtra and other states for incorporating a subject on yoga in their syllabus.

“Not only on the land but also in space the yoga has proven to be beneficial.”, he added citing the incident of Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian who travelled in space, President Kovind said that Sharma had shared his experience on how he dealt with space sickness by practising yoga in the spacecraft.

The institute being a non-profit organization, was founded in 1918 by yoga guru Yogendraji and spearheaded by three generations including his mother Sita Devi, Jayendra Yogendra, the present Director Hansaji Yogendra and Hrishi Jayadeva Yogendra. Maharashtra governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, union Ayush minister Shripad Naik and other yoga gurus were present on the occasion.

Earlier this year, the institute was awarded the prime minister’s award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and development of yoga, conferred by the Ministry of AYUSH. It is also the country’s first yoga school to be certified by the Quality Council of India, Ministry of AYUSH. Over the years, The Yoga Institute has certified over 55,000 trained yoga teachers across 120 countries.