From Hinduism Today

PORT-Of-SPAIN, TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, (for HPI by Paras Ramoutar): Acting Chief Justice of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Justice Rolston Nelson wants the Trinidad’s Ministry of Education to introduce yoga in the school system to curb school violence and indiscipline.

Justice Nelson was delivering the keynote address at the launch of International Yoga Day set for June 21, and it took place at the Trinidad Hilton Hotel on Monday. The Second International Yoga Day will be observed from June 18 to 26 at ten locations in this twin-island state, including the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus and at Divali Nagar.

Nelson noted that yoga enriches the body with peace and harmony. “It is very important in these days of great stress. We would see why such benefits are important. Those of you who watched the news for the last 24 hours would see how the mind can become diseased…it can suddenly explode and cause great destruction”.

The jurist highlighted that yoga can bring unity in the universe and that was a benefit we can all aim for. “In light of the current situation in terms of crime, that if one had more of the total benefits of yoga spread on the population we might be living in a much more humane and gentle society. I look forward to the Ministry of Education paying more to the science of yoga.”

Deoroop Teemal, chairman of the International Day of Yoga Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (IDYCTT) pointed that research has shown that if the body is kept in a certain position for prolonged periods, “it works on certain centers of the brain” which can address stress and anger among students. Teemal said that 12 active yoga groups will be participating in this the Second International Yoga Day

Indian High Commissioner, Shri Gauri Shankar Gupta, who will leave his posting next month, said that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is partnering with the Ministry of Health, the United Nations Organizations and the IDYCTT. Some 60 schools will hold yoga classes in September, he said.

Gupta quoted Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi’s address to the United Nations on September 27, 2014, in which he called at the United National General Assembly to declare June 21 annually as the International Yoga Day which was supported by 177 nations, “that yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian traditions. “It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”

“Yoga is a perfect science, and it can relax your body and mind and improve your immune system. We would be happy to go into the high risk schools and teach yoga. At the end of the day, we would have healthier children. We are appealing to the Government to come forward and co-operate with us,” Gupta noted. He pointed out that even modern science agrees that everything in the universe is just a manifestation of the same quantum firmament. Science of yoga had pronounce this long ago and it enables us to experience this reality.

Yvonne Lewis, director, Health Education Division, Ministry of Health, noted that yoga was an alternative in keeping one’s body active. Lewis admitted that citizens of Trinidad and Tobago were faced with high levels of non-communicable disease (NCD) such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer and stroke. “These account every year for over 60 per cent of deaths, and what concerns the Ministry most is that 70 per cent of those diseases can be prevented.

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