Yoga holistic approach to well-being, says vice prez

"Yoga is a holistic approach to well-being. It has physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions," said Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu at the inaugural ceremony of the centennial celebration of the Yoga Institute in Mumbai.

"Yoga connects physical health with mental equilibrium and emotional tranquillity, it promotes concentration and focused attention," said the vice president.

Naidu informed the gathering that sage Patanjali, who compiled the first yoga philosophy, defines yoga as the 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.

"The components of this yogic philosophy form the ethical principles that are so universal: non-violence, truthfulness, not stealing, fidelity and not being avaricious," he added.

The vice president also said yoga does not have a narrow religious connotation.

Naidu congratulated the Yoga Institute, which has been rendering yeoman service by training instructors and providing excellent services to humanity.