Significance of Yoga during pandemic times
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 23, 2021 -

HAD the Covid-19 situation in the state not been as grave as it is now, then the elucidations over the world embracing Yoga and its relevance in these pandemic times by both political and apolitical figures during observance of the International Yoga Day on Monday would have been more invigorating to the masses of Manipur.

However, with the commoners living a wretched life and still struggling to make both ends meet amid the deepening health crisis, it seems that the message and benefits of practicing the ancient Indian art form of rejuvenating life and instilling peace of mind must have been blurred or diluted.

From the national perspective, observance of the Day assumes greater significance for lakhs of Indians who have recently recovered from Covid-19 would be exploring different means to regain fitness and looking forward to resuming normal chores as many mainland states have started to ease restrictions owing to improvement in the pandemic situation.

Regardless of the experts predicting onset of third wave of the pandemic in the coming months, state-specific active cases in northern and western parts of the country remaining less than that of Manipur's has been encouraging the regional governments to open up various sectors.

In sharp contrast to these industrially developed western and northern states limping back to normalcy, resource-starved and developmentally deficit Manipur continues to wage a grim battle against the virus, not to mention of the inexplicable reduction in the number of daily test conducted.

Even more disturbing is the test positivity rate remaining triple times above the national average.

Thus, glorification of Yoga by both practitioners and advocates that it cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life, endows skill in the performance of one's actions, provides healing touch to improve physical well-being, keeps away chronic ailments, makes one subtle, etc., are unlikely to have any positive impression on the state's citizens, who have been facing one of the worst times in their life.

No doubt, relevance of yoga amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which has upended the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world, has increased substantially.

But in the state's context, it is obvious that large sections of the society wouldn't be interested in doing yoga when their immediate concern is trying to survive the day without any misfortune.

The United Nations setting aside June 21 as the International Yoga Day is indeed a great achievement for India and its relevance most profound during the pandemic times as practicing it has been widely accepted to have healing touch and enhances mental clarity.

It is considered an effective tool to reduce stress and improve motor functions, which, in turn, helps keep various health problems at bay.

However, the pandemic which has led to many families losing their loved ones and fates of hundreds of patients remaining uncertain coupled with the fear of this ever-mutating virus keeping many indoors is having serious impact that not many would believe in mental detoxification through Yoga exercises.

Rather, the public would be hoping that observance of the Yoga Day will help remove the haze from the policymakers, make them understand the ground reality and consequently galvanise maximum resources to ensure survival of the most distressed section of the society.