Panjab University student does yoga on highest peak of Europe

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

A 25-year-old student of Panjab University, Chandigarh, has created a record of sorts by performing “surya namaskar” on Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe and Russia, while undertaking a mountaineering expedition.

Ramanjot Kaur, who is pursuing her masters in physical education at the university, scaled the Elbrus on October 2, along with a companion from Sangrur in Punjab. She returned to India this week.

“Surya namaskar” or sun salutation, well known to practitioners of yoga, is a sequence of 12 powerful poses connected by jumping or body stretching movements. Besides being a great cardiovascular workout, it is also known to have an immensely positive impact on the body and mind.

“I had wanted this expedition to be different. There have been a few Indians who have scaled the Elbrus before and I felt like bringing in some new aspect. The yoga pose at that altitude and weather with protective clothing was an altogether different experience,” said Ramanjot.

Mountaineers generally spend just a few minutes at the top for taking pictures. Ramanjot and her companion, along with two guides, spent about an hour at the summit. “For the extended time our guides charged us extra as it is not safe at the top due to the strong winds and extremely low temperature,” she said.

“As a precautionary measure, we had taken two guides with us for support in case anything went amiss,” she said.

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