[TG SPECIAL]
PONDA/PERNEM: Yoga instructors from across the State have welcomed Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik's decision to regulate yoga instructors in the state, to ensure standardisation and to curb malpractices in the discipline.
Stating that they would fully comply with the regulations of the AYUSH ministry, Dr Suraj Kanekar, Goa chief of Patanjali Yog Samiti, told The Goan said all yoga teachers associated with Patanjali will answer the exam of Quality Council of India.
“We have trained around 1300 assistant yoga teachers. We have around 400 yoga classes running on a daily basis and we do not charge anything for it,” said Dr Kanekar, in an apparent reference to some yoga centres that levy exorbitant fees.
Commenting on the recent arrest of a yoga instructor at Korgao-Pernem on charges of sexually assaulting a US national and other allegations of molestation, Dr Kanekar said: “There was no need to touch students while imparting yoga. When we teach yoga, it should be in a spiritual way and we never come down from the platform.”
“All our 1300 assistant yoga teachers of Patanjali will answer the exam of Quality Council of India,” he said.
Dr Venkatesh Hegde, yoga teacher at the Art of Living by Shri Shri Ravi Shankar in Margao, also welcomed the decision of the AYUSH ministry.
“Teaching yoga the wrong way could cause side effects and may create problems for beginners and novices. We need to follow it as it was originally practised by the Rishi Munis and the government's decision to regulate yoga will help curb malpractices,” he added.
Dr Aruna Badhuriya, a yoga teacher of Patanjali who imparts classes for residents of Ponda and different schools, also welcomed the decision and said she would readily answer the exam.
Meanwhile, yoga centres in Pernem taluka have also hailed the government's decision to curb malpractices, in light of growing number of massage parlours illegally operating along Pernem's coast.
James Fernandes, a yoga club owner at Junaswada-Mandrem, fully supported the decision. “During the tourism season, my club undertakes yoga classes every day. I have appointed a special yoga trainer for my club and I have all kinds of permits for my yoga club. In any case, I will specially ensure that my trainer is certified to impart yoga classes,” informed Fernandes.
Yusuf Mohammad, a native of Kerala who runs a yoga centre at Mandrem, said he too supported the government's decision.
“This decision will provide relief to our authorised yoga centres, as there will be a total ban on yoga centres operating illegally on the hilly areas of Mandrem,” said Mohammed.
“This will help curb malpractices and abuses in the name of yoga. As a yoga instructor, I will undergo the central government's yoga accreditation to be a certified yoga instructor,” he added.
Nitin Jadhav, owner of Eco Village Yoga Centre, added: “I used to conduct yoga classes daily, but have closed it down since the last two years. It is important for a trainer to have a permit while teaching yoga or else, yoga will not benefit the person.”
