On Sunday, the Indian High Commission held the last of this year’s 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Nairobi.
The first of this event was held last week, on Friday, at the United Nation’s Avenue, Gigiri in Nairobi.
Hosted under the theme Yoga for Self and Society, Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Namgya Khampa commended all yoga enthusiasts from children, women and men old and young who showed up to celebrate the special day.
Speaking at the Sikh Union Club in Nairobi, Khampa noted that yoga has been around for thousands of years.
She added that it is an ancient Indian practice that has turned into a global health movement in the last few decades.
“Yoga has become a guiding toolkit for people around the world to achieve holistic health. It allows us to integrate a sense of well-being both physically, mentally and spiritually,” Khampa said.
“Yoga helps us look at the balance between man and society, our inner self and the outer environment and this is in line with this year’s theme.”
Sports and Youth Affairs CS Ababu Namwamba who was also in attendance commended the Indian High Commission for the continued commitment to organising annual celebrations in Kenya.
He said that yoga is a platform that we use to strengthen Kenya’s bilateral ties with India adding that it brings the body, soul and mind together.
“This is a perfect symmetry of existence,” Namwamba said.
“Many people ask me what keeps me fit, what I eat and I tell them I do yoga. It keeps me fit and well healthwise. I am a yoga enthusiast and if you haven’t started practising it, start today.”
Namwamba also noted that yoga brings people together and is great for wellness and non-medicinal health.
“When we do yoga, we cast away any differences amongst us and we become one. It has always been amazing to be part of this incredible tradition year on.”
CS Namwamba also unveiled a yoga photo contest competition by the Indian High Commission.
Participants can join and be part of the contest by submitting a jpeg photo of self or with family while practising yoga.
They then have to upload the images on their social media handles and tag the Indian High Commission in Kenya.
The contest is open to all Kenyan residents until July 24.
The first winner of the contest will be awarded Sh 60,000, second place Sh 40,000 and third place Sh 30,000.
Joined by Nairobi Women Rep Esther Passaris, Namwamba also paid tribute to the late incumbent Indian High Commissioner Paul Virander.
On her part, Passaris said yoga practice is something of importance adding that those who regularly practice it can attest to its beauty and achieve some level of flexibility.
“Once you practice it, you learn to love and respect your body. Yoga is not a religion but a way to live life,” she said.
“When I went to see my doctor with knee pain complaints and asked to have a knee replacement, the doctor asked me to go and practice yoga and I have been doing it faithfully.”
The United Nations declared June 21 as a day to commemorate the International Day of Yoga in December 2014, through a resolution proposed by India and endorsed by 175 member states.
The participants of the event were taken through a 45 minutes yoga session by Dr Kapil Dev Kesari.
He said yoga is all about improving one’s holistic health.
“In yoga, we have different postures,meditation and breathing techniques. By practising, one can improve their flexibility, strengths and even improve on mental health because today, there are a lot of psycho-symmetric issues and yoga can help improve on that,” Kesari said.
He also noted that those interested in practicing yoga can sign up as the Indian High Commission offers free classes, twice a week.
The World Health Organization mentions yoga as a means to improve health in its Global Action Plan on physical activity 2018 – 2030.
The WHO Global Action Plan 2018-2030 says that regular and adequate physical activity reduces the risk of many non-communicable diseases and conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast, and colon cancer.
Physical activities also help to prevent hypertension, obesity and overweight and can improve mental health, quality of life, and well-being.
However, the Global Action Plan indicates that 1 in 4 adults and 3 in 4 adolescents (aged 11-17 years) do not meet the current global recommendations for physical activity by WHO.
