Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), in partnership with the Heartfulness Institute organized the Yoga for Unity on World Yoga Day on Tuesday, 21 June 2022 from 8 am to 9 am at Heartfulness Meditation Centre in Kolkata. The Session was attended by Mr. Zha Liyou, Consul General of China in Kolkata, Ms Acharapan Yavaprapas, Consul General of Thailand in Kolkata, Ms Rowan Ainsworth, Consul General of Australia in Kolkata, Mr. Eshor Raj Poudel, Consul General of Nepal in Kolkata and Ms Debjani Chatterjee, Actress.
Mr. Rishabh C. Kothari, President, MCCI warmly welcomed the guests and said that yoga is a non-denominational and universal practice. Yoga means union and through it we look after the union of all our faculties of body, mind and soul. He also mentioned that it was reflective of the international and universal nature of Yoga that the guests included the Consul Generals of so many countries.
Mr. Rishabh Kothari address was followed by a session by Heartfulness Yoga Trainer Ms Deepti Mehta. She started by saying that Yoga is for over-all well-being of man-kind and reiterated that yoga is a union of body, mind and soul and it helps to maintain balance in life and it also sharpens intellect. She mentioned the principles of yoga, including:
- Yama for good conduct
- Niyama for regularity
- Asana which is about posture
- Pranayama which is a set of breathing techniques
- Pratyahara which is withdrawal of senses
- Dharana for concentration,
- Dhyana for meditation, and
- Samadhi for union
Thereafter, Ms Deepti Mehta conducted a session of yogasanas that can be performed sitting in a chair which can also be called Chair Yoga and is an easy-do for today’s sedentary lifestyle.
After the Yogasanas, Mr. Rishabh Kothari walked the audience through an experience of Heartfulness Relaxation and Heartfulness Meditation. He informed that Heartfulness meditation focuses on the heart and participants learn to ignore the thoughts that come to their mind. One experiences peace and balance with Heartfulness Meditation in the morning.
Mr. Rishabh Kothari took the attendees through a serene meditation session.
Sharing his thoughts after the session, Mr. Eshor Raj Poudel said that yoga is an indigenous part of Indian and Nepali culture. Yoga is widely practised in India and it is becoming an integral part of people’s lives. He welcomed everyone to Nepal for tourism and yoga.
Mr. Zha Liyou said that people in China practise yoga to make themselves spiritually, mentally and physically strong.
Ms. Rowan Ainsworth said that she joined the Session to learn more about yoga.
Ms Acharapan Yavaprapas spoke about the importance of yoga in people’s lives and 75 years of diplomatic ties between Thailand and India.
Ms Debjani Chatterjee said that yoga is a philosophy and not so much an exercise. Yoga means union of body and mind. Yoga is not about losing weight, instead it is about increasing one’s mental and physical strength and yoga gives us the strength to face problems in life.
Source : MCCI Release
