The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Yoga association opposed to P.T. teachers imparting yoga training

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 24, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Yoga association opposed to P.T. teachers imparting yoga training

Swahilya

15 days of training to make them teach yoga to students `is not enough'

A Yoga demonstration at the Velammal School in Chennai. — File photo: M. Vedhan.

CHENNAI: With the recent announcement in the Assembly about the proposal to teach yoga in State Government schools from the next academic year, training programmes in the discipline are underway for the Physical Training (P.T.) teachers.

The policy note of the School Education Department for 2007-08 said yoga is helpful for teachers and students suffering from stress-related mental, physical and health problems.

"To improve will-power, memory, IQ and developing normal and ethical behaviour, it is therefore proposed to train physical education teachers in Yoga to train the students."

The Tamil Nadu State Yogasana Association, recognised by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, however, is opposed to the move to make P.T. teachers impart yoga lessons.

Addressing press persons here on Tuesday, its president Asana Andiappan said yoga trainers require several years of training and study before they can teach it to others, especially students. "Giving 15 days of training to P.T. teachers to make them teach yoga to students is not enough," he said. According to him, there are 10,000 people in the State who hold a certificate, post-graduate diploma or graduation and post-graduation degrees in Yoga and Naturopathy.

The study of yoga is a rigorous discipline and includes the study of the human anatomy and physiology, pointed out K.S. Santhi, joint secretary of the association.

"A heart patient should not practice Kumbaka or retention of breath and people suffering from eye disorders should not do Shirasasana (standing on the head posture)," added S. Sathyanarayanan, organising secretary.

The Association members met Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, when he assumed charge.

"The Chief Minister himself practices Yoga daily. He assured us of supporting yoga education," Dr. Andiappan said.

Protest

On Saturday, members of the Association will organise a protest at Chepauk at 7 a.m. by standing one-legged in the `Ekapadasana' or `Vrikshasana' posture to draw the attention of government to their demands.

Their two important demands are that only trained teachers who have graduated in Yoga and Naturopathy from the several Universities in Tamil Nadu should be appointed as Yoga teachers in schools and that a Council be set up in the State to grade and accredit Yoga institutions.

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