Foreign experts proof of yoga’s global popularity

Tribune News Service

Rishikesh, March 3

Foreign yoga gurus, practitioners, trainers and learners were seen practising various asanas at the banks of the Ganga at the Parmarth Niketan, Swagarshram, Muni-ki-Reti and adjacent ghats on the third day of the International Yoga Festival here today.

These foreign gurus seem to be well versed in varied asanas such as kundalini sadhna to pranayama, traditional ‘hatha’ yoga, ‘jivamukhti’ yoga, ‘odaka’ yoga, deep and ashthang yoga that they performed since the morning session.

A brief talk with some participants revealed the importance and popularity of this ancient art in the western world. ‘Hatha’ yoga specialist from Los Angles Kia Miller said yoga leads to an intelligent approach to life and exploration of one’s innate powers. Pranayama helps us to dissolve the veil that covers our true self as we inhale and exhale air. Yoga’s true state can be attained when we uncover, which is already present in us, be ourself spiritually and physically,” said Miller.

Renowned yoga teacher from Turkey Mert Guler, who holds a masters degree in yoga, said the western world was fast getting attracted towards yoga, as they had realised that this ancient art form is the ultimate medical therapy, having no side-effects.

“Seminars, workshops, yoga classes, training capsules and camps are being organised in Europe and America in large numbers. Awareness about yoga is quite high in the western world than in India,” said Guler, founder of Mert Guler Classical Yoga and Awareness Development Center, Istanbul.

The founder of Odaka Yoga, Roberot Milletti from England, teaches at studios and yoga festivals worldwide. How to embrace and move the inner power was the key to learning yoga, he said.

Zhang Jiatuan from China, who is on the first visit to India, is quite enchanted about practising yoga on the banks of the Ganga. He said, “He had never thought of getting spiritual bliss, mental peace and physical strength in just three days of learning yoga in the festival”.

Similarly, Sandra Perlow, yoga teacher from New York, termed her experience as a life changing one that she would share with her family members, friends and local people. She is one of the thousands yoga experts practising on the Ganga riverbanks in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Director of the festival Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati said in the past few years, enthusiasm and popularity of the festival organised by the Parmarth Niketan ashram had increased manifold.