Visakhapatnam : Inhale.. exhale.. to connect mind, body and soul!

Visakhapatnam : The ancient practice of yoga that signifies Indian culture garnered larger attention as people from all walks of life took part in various programmes hosted across the city to mark the global celebrations on International Yoga Day (IYD).

Emphasising on connecting mind, body and soul, yoga experts have been encouraging communities to practice yoga in order to maintain mental, emotional and overall wellbeing.

In Visakhapatnam, experts, volunteers, employees from a number of organisations, students from educational institutions joined global celebrations by spreading the mats, stretching themselves to inhale and exhale, and demonstrating asanas.

Delivering a strong ­­­­message that yoga works wonders where medicines fail to heal, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur mentioned that the ancient regimen was practiced by yogis and sages who had fought over diseases. Terming it as a powerful regimen, the Union Minister exhorted people to spare 45-30 minutes of their day to practice yoga and keep diseases at bay. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the movement in 2015. Ever since, so many countries have adopted the International Yoga Day," he stated at Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

The Union Minister was accompanied by Visakhapatnam Port Authority Chairman K Rama Mohana Rao, Mayor G Hari Venkata Kumari, District Collector A Mallikarjuna, MLCs PVN Madahav and Varadhu Kalyani, among others.

Waltair : Marking the day, a host of programmes were organised by the Waltair Division at different venues. Divisional Railway Manager, Waltair, Anup Satpathy, president of ECoRWWO Parijata Satpathy, ADRM (Infra) Sudhir Kumar Gupta, ADRM (Operations) Manoj Kumar Sahoo joined the celebrations by spreading the mats and stretching for asanas. The DRM exhorted people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and yoga aids in balancing mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing of an individual. Later, he administered a yoga pledge to the railway personnel. Branch officers, staff, RPF personnel, sports persons, scouts and guides took part in the yoga camps organised at various places.

VPA : Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) celebrated the day with fervour at Swarna Bharathi Indoor stadium along with the district administration. Union Minister Shantanu Thakur exhorted the employees to make yoga a way of life. VPA Chairman K Rama Mohana Rao mentioned how yoga aids in leading a long and healthy life. The Chairman advocated consuming traditional food and leading a simple life by making yoga an integral part of one's life.

Commissioner of Income Tax, Visakhapatnam spoke about the benefits of practicing yoga daily at length at the celebrations observed by the Income Tax Department. He said that yoga not only helps in maintaining physical fitness but also in curing and controlling several diseases. He encouraged the younger generation to lead a stress-free life by practicing yoga. N. Ravi Babu, and Vana Srinivasa Rao, Additional Commissioners of Income Tax participated in the session along with the Joint Commissioners of IT Sankar Pandi and TV Vamsidhar.

ENC : At Eastern Naval Command (ENC), nearly 22,000 naval personnel, defence civilians and their family members enthusiastically participated in programmes that promoted yoga as an integral part of the day.

Navy personnel onboard ships and submarines at sea also practised yoga that included postures, pranayama, breathing techniques and. All units under the ENC spread across the Eastern Seaboard from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu participated in various yoga-related activities. Special sessions were conducted in different places such as aqua yoga in the swimming pool, airfield yoga at INS Dega, Hilltop yoga at Dolphin Hill, yoga in Hospital at INHS Kalyani and in community centres at residential colonies.

Meanwhile, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) celebrated IYD by raising awareness about benefits of the ancient practice. CMD HSL Cmde Hemant Khatri stressed on the advantages of practicing yoga on a daily basis. Mass yoga session was held involving over 1,000 employees at the shipyard.

Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ), Joint Development Commissioner Vasant Kiran Babu highlighted the importance of the IYD celebrated in the country that coincides with Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav. He briefed about the benefits of yoga that works as an effective tool to improve mental wellbeing of people. VZEZ staff, officers from various units participated in the event.

District Medical and Health Officer Vijaya Lakshmi attended as chief guest at the celebrations organised by Care Hospitals. Andhra University yoga teachers gave training in yoga to the participants. Speaking on the occasion, DHO highlighted the importance of yoga. HCOO of the hospital V Srinivas, Dr. Venu Gopal also spoke about the benefits of yoga.

RINL celebrated the day at its sports complex, Ukkunagaram. Common Yoga Protocol was observed by over two hundred 'sadhakas' of different age groups, including employees, housewives and school children. The event was inaugurated by K. H. Prakash, chief general manager (M&HS), RINL in the presence of F.K. Lakra, chief general manager (town administration, Law and Contracts), R.P. Sharma GM (CC) I/c and M.S. Kumar GM (Sports).

Meanwhile, spreading awareness about the invaluable benefits of yoga, NTPC Simhadri celebrated the day with the employees. GC Choukse, GGM Simhadri, RK Jha, GM (O&M) and a large number of employees attended the programme.

Highlighting the theme 'yoga for humanity', Dredging Corporation India Limited celebrated the day at its head office. Led by yoga instructor Madhavi, the employees of the DCI practiced yoga asanas and breathing exercises on the occasion. To portray the significance of the day, short videos were taken onboard the dredgers.

Celebrating the day, GITAM in-charge Vice Chancellor Jayasankar Variyar highlighted the importance of IYD. He spoke about how yoga aids in treating incurable diseases. The event was led by Sanjay Kumar who guided the participants to demonstrate various asanas. GIMSR Pro Vice-Chancellor Gitanjali Batmanabane, campus life Pro Vice-Chancellor Y. Gowtham Rao, Registrar D Gunasekharan, among others joined the celebrations.

The eighth International Yoga Day was celebrated at Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar campus. Kumar Swamy, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Zone-1, who attended as chief guest, conveyed the importance of practicing yoga in day-day life. Students from classes VIII, IX and X performed 'suryanamaskar.'

Involving 125 members, Rotary Clubs organised a programme at Beach Road. Owing to unfavourable weather condition, many organisers hosted yoga sessions indoors this time.