International Yoga Day: City yoga institutes flooded with queries, demands for teachers, sessions

The overwhelming response at the institute has forced it to decide on stopping new admissions.

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“There are as many as 2,000 students in various classes, besides a waiting list of more than 200 people. The inflow of foreign students also increases from June and every month there are over 40 such applications,” Iyengar said. “Our students then become expert teachers and set up courses to train others. Some of our students will be going to China, Dubai and other countries to teach yoga,” she added.

While the institute’s senior teachers like Dr Rajvi Mehta and Firoza Razvi will be attending the function on June 21 in Delhi, other Iyengar yoga teachers will be conducting modules in their societies, schools, police academy and at corporate firms. “There have been enquiries via emails, letters and phone. While the institute has to finalise its schedule for June 21, the focus will be on regular practice,” Iyengar said. “There will be children’s batches and even a film on Guruji,” she added.

At Symbiosis, some 2,000 people, including students and staff, will gather at a hill top in Lavale to observe the International Yoga Day.

Dr Nitin Unkule, member of Symbiosis Society’s Committee, said they had received a letter from PM Narendra Modi to celebrate the day by conducting a 33-minute programme. Unkule, who also runs the Kaivalya Yoga Institute in Pune, will be arranging lectures and a yoga asana programme at Sane Guruji school.

Dr Renu Mahtani, founder of Param Yoga and a practising physician, feels everyday is a yoga day. “We have been given a protocol of yoga asanas that have to be taught on the International Yoga Day. Teams of teachers will be asked to volunteer and teach free of cost at societies, kitty parties and clubs. There have been several enquiries about celebrations on International Yoga Day.”

Yoga enthusiasts vouch for Surya Namaskar

Corporate consultant Neeraj Sharma said Surya Namaskar was a vital component of yoga and there should be no controversy related to it. He, along with a group of 50 others, performs 108 Surya Namaskars daily at Kalyani Nagar. Sharma says the benefits are tremendous.

After protests by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the government has decided to trim the yoga asana drill to exclude Surya Namaskar.

“How is that possible? . Surya Namaskar does not have anything to do with religion. It is a way of thinking and most certainly, we will be performing the asana on International Yoga Day,” Dr Renu Mahtani said.

Dr Nitin Unkule too said yoga was in complete without Surya Namaskar.