MPYTC Holds Conference In Conjunction With UN International Day Of Yoga

KLANG (Selangor, Malaysia), June 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Pranava Yoga Therapy Centre (MPYTC) is holding its 8th biennial Yoga Conference Sunday in conjunction with the United Nations (UN) International Day of Yoga. MPYTC founder and president, M.Raajamanikam, 78, said it is held at the Gold Course Hotel in Klang (in Selangor state). "We have close to 10 speakers from various parts of the world who will be sharing their thoughts on the benefits of yoga at the conference to be opened by former Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S.Samy Vellu," he said in an interview with Bernama. Raajamanikam, who has been a yoga practitioner for almost 45 years, said MPYTC is the only centre in Malaysia to organise a conference on yoga on a big scale since 2002. MPYTC, which started its operations in 1970, has 72 centres nationwide, besides two centres in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. June 21 was declared the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Dec 11, 2014. The idea of an International Day of Yoga was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UNGA last September, calling yoga "a holistic approach to health and well being" and to finding "the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature." Raajamanikam said yoga, originally performed in religious rituals in India 10,000 years ago, had evolved into a form of exercise to relax not just the body, but the mind as well. He said yoga, if practiced constantly, could help prevent or relieve some common diseases, mainly asthma, sinus problems, constipation, stomach problems and even diabetes. "We have more than eight million yoga asanas (postures). Each of these positions is said to be specifically useful for one particular problem related to our body," said the yoga guru. Raajamanikam, who is the recipient of the Malaysian Yoga Sports Association's 'Life Time Achievement Award, said more people were now aware of the benefits of yoga. "Self-discipline and determination is very important while performing yoga to see drastic changes in mental and physical being," he added. -- BERNAMA