Yoga does not have a religious connotation: Venkaiah Naidu

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said Yoga is a holistic approach to well being and it does not have a religious connotation. "Yoga connects physical health with mental equilibrium and emotional tranquillity, it promotes concentration and focused attention. It has physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions," he noted.

Naidu was speaking on the of the inaugural ceremony of the centennial celebration of Yoga Institute situated in the western suburb.

Naidu informed the gathering that Sage Patanjali who compiled the first yoga philosophy defines yoga as an ability to control one's own random thoughts and achieve a stillness, a calmness that creates inner harmony. This philosophy is usually referred to as Ashtanga Yoga. He explained "the components of this yogic philosophy form the ethical principles that are so universal: Non –violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, fidelity and not being avaricious."

The Vice President informed that the emphasis on physical exercises emerged around 11TH century AD in a branch of yoga called Hatha yoga.

He said ''these exercises have gained worldwide importance and prominence over the years. We in India felt that this treasure house of knowledge should be shared with the entire world. We are so pleased that in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly has established 21st June as the international day of Yoga. This resolution has given a new impetus to the popularisation of this ancient science."