Yoga with soldiers: Continue practising to be battle-ready, says Rajnath Singh

Appreciating the inclination of the armed forces personnel towards Yoga, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said its practice prepares a soldier physically and mentally and makes him battle-ready.

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Singh led a mass yoga demonstration on the occasion of International Day of Yoga at northern command headquarters here, performing various asanas and breathing exercises with 2,500 soldiers.

The event was joined by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma.

Yoga sessions were also performed at numerous forward locations in the challenging terrain of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, showcasing the commitment and enthusiasm of the soldiers.

The Defence Minister appreciated the inclination of the armed forces personnel towards yoga which, he said, had a direct impact on their discipline and focus.

"Yoga prepares a soldier physically and mentally and its benefits can be seen in the battlefield,” he said, encouraging the soldiers to continue practising it daily.

In his address to the troops, he termed yoga as a universal solution to the problems faced by people in today's fast-paced world such as stress, anxiety and depression.

"Yoga gives clarity to people in chaos. It is an art, a science, a philosophy, and spirituality. Those who practice yoga in their daily lives have control over their body and mind. It makes us proactive, not reactive,” he said.

Describing Operation Sindoor as a shining example of that control, the defence minister said Indian Armed Forces displayed restraint, balance and precision during the operation, which is a reflection of their inner strength attained by practising yoga.

This year's theme for the International Day of Yoga is 'One Earth, One Health'.

He said, "The whole world is a family and working for it is a part of our thinking. Yoga is a practical expression of this thinking, it is silently changing the world and every citizen should be proud of the fact that India's ancient tradition is being recognised and accepted globally."