Practitioners hope for boost after Centre recommends yoga for COVID

The Ministry claimed that Yoga had immunity-boosting benefits, and the protocol highlighted detailed asanas and yogic dietary patterns.

P Rathnavel, a local yoga practitioner, claimed that asanas and pranayama in tandem would help boost immunity against a wide variety of diseases. “However, this immunity is developed slowly. A few of my older clients have returned for classes during the shutdown, and it has taken them some time to return to the level that they were. Breathing exercises also helps boost lung health and lung capacity,” he said.

Some allopathy doctors, too, are recommending breathing exercises to those who recovered from COVID to help with breathing issues. The protocols also stressed on the benefits yoga poses for people with non-communicable diseases and other co-morbidities.

“We have a lot of older clients coming for classes. Many of them are too hesitant to step out for exercise. So yoga is a way for them to keep fit while staying indoors. Additionally, several studies have shown that yoga helps with maintaining blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels for people with diabetes and hypertension,” said Narendra Kumar, another yoga practitioner.

With the release of these protocols, some yoga practitioners said that there would be more takers for yoga in the city.

“These will be very helpful for local practitioners in ensuring that a guideline is followed. We can even work out plans for clients with the help of local Siddha and Ayurveda doctors. I am hoping that people see the benefits of yoga in treating a wide variety of diseases, and decide to take up the practice as it has long-term benefits,” said Rathnavel.