GUWAHATI, July 5 - �Yoga is not a religion, it is completely a science of well-being,�a science of youthfulness and a science of integrating body, mind and soul,��said Governor of Assam and Nagaland PB Acharya while releasing�two books on yoga at a function held at the Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Uzanbazar here on Monday evening.
The two books that Acharya released were, Stay fit through Yoga written by Amar Krishna Paul for yoga teachers, students and health conscious people, and Bridge the Information Gap, a practical handbook for all householders by Ashok Kumar Deb.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Acharya said, �Yoga means addition of energy, strength and beauty to body mind and soul,� and added, �Modern life is full of stress and problems, which give rise to diseases like obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. Yoga has the potential to address all these problems and play a vital role in ensuring physical and mental well-being.�
He also said that yoga offers the cheapest and most undisruptive solution to all physical ailments. Both the books, the Governor observed, have been written to benefit humanity as a whole.
Acharya further said, �Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian traditions to the world. It embodies unity of mind, body, thought and action. It also symbolises harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being all rolling into one.�
�As Indians, we should be proud that yoga has become a movement in our society for health and well-being and today it is practised in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. Recognising its universal appeal the United Nations even proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga,� Governor added.
President of the Journalists� Association of Assam DN Chakravartty also spoke at length on the benefits of yoga.
Director, Purbanchal Yoga Mahavidyalaya Yogacharya Subhasish while sharing his expertise, requested the Governor to take the initiative for setting up a new university in North East India, which will be totally dedicated to the yogic activities of Swami Sivananda Saraswati Maharaj, the forerunner in the field of yoga in the world.
President ISKCON Jeeva Das and a host of dignitaries were also present at the book release function.
