The international recognition accorded to yoga through the declaration of the International Day of Yoga in 2014 is a recognition of India’s cultural traditions and ancient way of life, Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain (MP) Captain Brijesh Chowta said here on Sunday.

He was speaking after inaugurating a yoga session, organised by the district administration and the Department of AYUSH, on the ocassion of the International Day of Yoga, at Kudmul Rangarao Town Hall.

Capt. Chowta said India had taught the world on how to lead a healthy life through yoga. The present global health scenario underlined the importance of yoga, he said.

Senior yoga teacher Gopalakrishna Delampady conducted the session, attended by senior officials, elected representatives, and others.

Yoga in Dharmasthala

Participating online in a yoga programme organised by SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Ujire, at Amruthavarshini Sabha Bhavana in Dharmasthala, B.C. Bhagwan, Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), said the university was teaching yoga to 45,000 students across 400 colleges.

At NIT-K

About 350 persons, including students, staff and faculty members, took part in a mass demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal.

The institute organised a ‘30 Surya Namaskars in 30 Minutes’ competition on June 19 to mark the ocassion. The event aimed to encourage consistency and discipline among yoga practitioners, a NIT-K release said.

In Udupi

Speaking at a yoga day programme organised by the Udupi district administration, Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna suggested that people practise yoga for at least an hour every day.

Various educational institutions, including Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodbidri, and government departments across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts celebrated the International Day of Yoga.

The BJP also organised a yoga day programme on the premises of Kadri Manjunatha Temple in Mangaluru.