How yoga can help you combat COVID-19, suicide 
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K.J Srinivasa 
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K.J Srinivasa 

— as Indian High Commission celebrates International Yoga Day 

Yoga is essentially an ancient practice which involves deep breathing and concentration, accompanied by a myriad of physical poses that have been proven to boost mental health and maintain physical wellbeing. Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, expressed confidence that the practice of yoga could also be a key component of helping to combat the novel coronavirus which has already taken the lives of more than 400 Guyanese and millions of others globally.
“One important thing is, COVID affects the lungs, so your breathing capacity reduces; but they have found that there are certain breathing exercises in yoga which helps to expand your lung capacity,” Dr. Srinivasa indicated.  In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, the diplomat reasoned that even if a yoga practitioner (yogi) were to contract the deadly virus, their respiratory system would be far more resilient to fight against the virus.

Further, Dr. Srinivasa believes that yoga can also help to combat feelings of anxiety and frustration that could come from having to adjust to a global pandemic.
“With clinical evidence, millions of people have benefitted from the good aspects of yoga; it helps with the stress, depression and other issues that come from being isolated for a long time, because these can get to you,” Dr. Srinivasa recognised. The High Commissioner, who is also a medical doctor, related that the practice of yoga has been extremely effective in helping to maintain good mental and spiritual health. “…and of course, it helps with physical fitness, because you are doing exercises,” Dr. Srinivasa noted.
Additionally, as Guyana continues to battle high rates of suicides, Dr. Srinivasa believes that the practice of yoga can go a far way in helping the country tackle this phenomenon which has also begun to affect children. Specifically, the diplomat said that yoga helps to lower the levels of anxiety, frustration, depression, and all other mental health challenges that often lead to suicide.

CALMING INFLUENCE

“To combat the stresses of life, you need that calming influence, and yoga provides that; in fact, in many counselling sessions in yoga, they actually use yoga as a counselling method,” Dr. Srinivasa highlighted.
He noted too, that the practice of yoga can significantly reduce a person’s medical bills, since it can also help in the lowering of hypertension, diabetes, and several other non-communicable diseases that can lead to a plethora of health complications including death.
“It has been proven,” Dr. Srinivasa added.
He acknowledged that even though yoga is associated widely with religion and the teachings of Hinduism, its benefits have undoubtedly transcended all faiths, beliefs and ethnicities.
“The practice of yoga has taken off in a huge way. Many schools have incorporated it as a health practice, and as we know, meditation is across all religions, and across all races; it calms down your body,” the Indian envoy posited.

FOR ALL BODY TYPES! 
Dr. Srinivasa also cautioned persons against being dismayed or feeling threatened by those who have managed to progress to the advance stages of yoga, which would see them doing a series of complicated poses.
“It is for everyone…you can even do yoga sitting,” the Indian envoy assured.
He said that yoga can be tailored to suit persons of any age or body type.
“It is your body; the teacher tells you that when the body says no, you do what you what your body allows,” Dr. Srinivasa maintained.
He said that there are poses that prepare beginners for advancement, and that many of the gym and aerobic sessions being administered worldwide, are actually linked to yoga.
The diplomat believes that the teachings of yoga can also help Guyana achieve its desired level of unity and oneness across all diversities.
“Yoga can also teach equality and equanimity; it tells you to treat everything the same; ups and downs of life, it is all the same; we as people are also all the same,” Dr. Srinivasa related.

INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY 2021 
In observance of the 7th International Yoga Day slated for Monday, June 21, Dr. Srinivasa and his team at the Indian High Commission will be hosting an activity which will be televised and streamed live on its Facebook page from 10:00 hours. The one-hour event will be attended by yogis from across the country, as well as the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd. Also in attendance would be Former President, Donald Ramotar, who is also a keen practitioner of yoga. The observance will feature speeches and presentations that seek to highlight all of the unending benefits of yoga. “What we are trying to do is reach out to the general public,” Dr. Srinivasa noted. He said that the coronavirus pandemic had resulted in yoga sessions being done via Zoom; however, physical classes have since restarted.
“Our yoga teacher left last year, but we have been able to use disciples here in Guyana; and we have a healthy number; to host the classes.”
Dr. Srinivasa said that yoga has been picking up across the Caribbean, and that even the already athletic members of the Guyana Defence Force have been requesting more sessions.

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