Like national Parliament, Hindus urge Australia’s state parliaments also to offer yoga to members

Hindus have welcomed Parliament of Australia for offering yoga classes/training to members in the Parliament House in Canberra.

Calling it a step in the positive direction, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) for coming forward with this initiative and providing an opportunity to members of Australia Parliament to avail the multiple benefits yoga offered.

Health & Recreation Centre managed by DPS at Parliament of Australia offers three yoga classes during sitting weeks, out of which one is ?open only to Senators and Members?, while other building occupants can also join in the other two classes. The style of the yoga classes is mostly Vinyasa, but some other styles are also often blended. Yoga classes were launched in 2011 at the Centre, reports suggest.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged parliaments of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia; legislative assemblies of Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory; Norfolk Island Regional Council; and shires of Christmas and Cocos Keeling islands; to also offer yoga to their members so that they could make healthy decisions for their respective electorates by incorporating highly beneficial yoga in their lives.

Yoga, referred as ?a living fossil?, was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, Rajan Zed pointed out.

Zed further said that yoga, although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.

According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to a ?2016 Yoga in America Study?, about 37 million Americans (which included many celebrities) now practice yoga; and yoga is strongly correlated with having a positive self image. Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Rajan Zed added.

Health and Recreation Centre was launched when the building opened in 1988. DPS has published a ?Physical Fitness Guide?, which includes ?Body Drag?, dragging a dummy of 50-55kg from under each armpit. Rob Stefanic is DPS Secretary.

Company :-Universal Society of Hinduism

User :- Rajan Zed

Email :-rajanz@aol.com