TheCable

Aisha Buhari, wife of Nigeria’s president, on Sunday urged Nigerians to embrace Yoga in order to enhance their physical and mental well-being.

Speaking on Sunday during the first international day of Yoga, organised by the Indian high commission in Abuja, she described Yoga as a gift from India to the world.

Aisha was represented by Alanyingi Sylva, wife of Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Her (Aisha’s) message is to thank the Indian high commission for bringing Yoga and to encourage Nigerians to embrace the initiative of Yoga,” Sylva said.

“This is because, it (Yoga) is for the well-being of your mind and body. Yoga is a very welcome initiative by the Indian high commission because it has been around and it has been a source of well-being for the Indian people.

“It is a gift from India to the world. They’ve had a success story of Yoga for thousands of years and they are bringing it to Nigeria.

“We hope it is going to add to the well-being of Nigerians. Nigerians should do what is physically fit for them to enhance their well-being.”

Ajjanpur Ghanashyam, the Indian high commissioner in Nigeria, said Yoga was a concept designed for the well-being and wellness of humankind.

“It tries to put together the body, the mind and the soul with the rest of environment and nature,” he said.

“The beauty of it is it doesn’t require any money, it doesn’t require equipment; it does not require any kind of financial investment and it helps you.

“Basically what it does is to make sure that your bones are fit, the joints of your bones are well-healed and well-oiled.

“You also feel more focused when you do your work and much more happy with yourself, with your family, with your environment and with your friends.

“So most people think that Yoga is a form of exercise; it is not just an exercise, it is much more than exercise.”

Ghanashuam said Yoga had the capacity to increase the oxygen content inside the body to ensure well-being.

“It has been proved that children who do Yoga perform better in their examinations,” he said.

“They are able to hold their minds and focus on to what they are doing by helping their attention span to go up.”

On December 11, 2014, the United Nations declared June 21 of every year as the international day of Yoga.