WHO, India to draft global benchmarks for yoga practice , Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) and India are collaborating to standardize yoga training practices globally.
• The initiative aims to establish yoga as a preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative intervention.
• The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, under the Union Ayush Ministry, is the nodal center for this program.
• The standardization seeks to create guidelines for yoga practice, training, and application worldwide.

Detailed Insights:

• The standardization aims to define global benchmarks for professional competency and knowledge in yoga.
• It also ensures that diverse traditions of yoga can coexist under uniform quality standards.
• The initiative addresses the lack of uniform standards that hinder wider adaptability of yoga.
• A technical report is under development to eliminate misuse and misinterpretation of yoga.
• The focus is on systematic, sustained practice that blends body and mind, not just physical flexibility.
• Efforts are being made to strengthen the research base to gain due recognition for yoga.
• Studies from the institute are being indexed in global databases to enhance visibility and credibility.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Yoga: A traditional practice involving physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation.
• Standardization: Establishing uniform guidelines and benchmarks for quality and consistency.
• Preventive Healthcare: Measures taken to prevent diseases or health issues before they occur.