It’s yoga all the way!

The first International Yoga Day celebrations got off to a rousing start with Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh E.S.L. Narasimhan taking the lead in organising one such function at Raj Bhavan. He enthusiastically participated with his wife Vimala and senior officers in a 30-minute routine, guided by yoga trainer Ravi Kishore.

Simply put, it was the best manifestation of an ancient art that was born in ‘Bharat’. Hyderabad reverberated to yoga. Shrugging off the blues early on a rainy, Sunday morning, people piled on to their vehicles and reach some yoga camp or the other across the twin cities, bending and stretching their tired bodies in some ‘asana’ or the other.

A few minutes earlier, it was the presence of Union Ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda (Health) and Bandaru Dattatreya (Labour) that kick-started the observance of International Yoga Day at Sanjeevaiah Park here. Yoga guru Aruna Devi took hundreds of participants through a basic ‘yogasana’ routine, starting with one for ‘Vish’ and ‘Kubera’.

Mr. Nadda said it was important for people to incorporate yoga into their regular lifestyle, adding that the ancient art was the right solution to overcome challenges posed by lifestyle and non-communicable diseases.

Mr. Dattatreya said it was appreciable that 47 Islamic nations had recognised the importance of yoga by supporting the United Nations resolution that made June 21 International Yoga Day.

State party chief G. Kishan Reddy, national general secretary Muralidhar Rao and the BJP floor leader in Assembly K. Laxman were also present.