Should Yoga be made a compulsory subject in schools and colleges

AYUSH minister has recently sent a proposal to MHRD to make Yoga a compulsory subject in schools and colleges. Here is how stakeholders react to the issue

Children must be taught Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful gift for all. It is especially beautiful if yoga is incorporated into the lives of young children, be it in schools, colleges or even in the comfort of their own home. It gives the perfect building blocks for a healthy, happy and fulfilling life. From time immemorial, the knowledge of yoga was imparted to young pupils in India. The same is possible now with just a few changes in the way we impart this knowledge to youngsters. Children are now highly evolved and have easy access to technology and gadgets. The time has come when we as nurturers and caregivers must reach out to them in a manner that excites them. If we become innovative with the teaching of Yoga, surely, the students of schools and institutes will benefit.

— Grand Master Akshar, Yoga entrepreneur

Should be a part of curriculum

Yoga must be made part of the curriculum as it is the immortal gift from India to the world. In response to India's initiatives, the United Nations has declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day. In fact, Yoga is recognised as the great enabling force to think positive and progress in life with optimism and confidence. Youth today is constantly confronting anxiety, depression and restlessness, due to the technology-driven world and cut-throat competition. It is here that yoga and meditation can provide them with the elixir of life and handle chaos effectively around them. Yoga enables youth to imbibe strong and healthy body, mind and spirit that are imperative factors to move forward in life with potential. Practising yoga helps to improve attentiveness and concentration to perform tasks with creativity for achieving success.

— Padmakali Banerjee, pro-vice-chancellor, Amity University, Haryana

Help to de-stress

Yoga should be incorporated in schools and colleges especially looking at the stress level that children go through. Yoga will not only help them de-stress but also make them healthy. The calmness that it brings will reduce violent behaviour in kids, which is becoming prevalent these days. A good exercise in the campus will help them get good sleep at night. Through improving mind-body connection, yoga will make the children and grownups become more confident and increase endurance. As yoga includes controlled breathing, it will help them teach self-control that will stop them from reacting impulsively in emotional situations. Thus it will enable them to control anger allowing them to take rational decisions when needed. Another important aspect that yoga can tackle is the weight problem in children due to the consumption of junk food. Regular asanas of yoga will counter the ill effects of junk food and will help them maintain right weight suitable for their age.

— Asha Singh, Teacher, Kendra Vidalaya, Sector 3, Rohini, Delhi

Helps in overall development

Yoga in education can promote human values, reforms in behaviour and relieve the stress. It can also build up a healthy lifestyle. Students are subjected to excessive academic work that builds up pressure on them which leaves them with no time to relax. Hence if yoga is integrated into education, it will provide holistic development.

— Shivanna B, Assistant professor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru