Some of the yogic postures under the common yoga protocol:
The word “Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj', meaning to join or to unite and dates to 2,700 BC, and according to this government document, considered an “immortal cultural outcome” of the Indus-Saraswati Valley Civilisation.
The government and yoga: close links
Yoga and naturopathy are widely promoted by the government of India, specifically by the AYUSH ministry.
There are two National Institutes, the Morarji Desai National Institute for Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi and National Institute for Naturopathy (NIN), Pune, and one Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), New Delhi. Granted Rs 101.5 crore over the last four years by the government, they hold exhibitions, seminars and conferences.
MDNIY recently started a B.Sc. in yoga science, and there are 18 colleges in eight states imparting a five-and-a-half year Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences degree and more than 50 stand-alone yoga colleges offering B.Sc., M.Sc., diploma and certificate courses.
The government has also proposed an All-India Yoga Institute.
(Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit)
