All India Institute of Medical Sciences celebrated International Yoga Day at AIIMS yoga centre here today.
More than 600 enthusiastic AIIMS faculty, students, nursing officers and other staff led by Randeep Guleria, Director AIIMS, participated in the practice.
AIIMS into the health benefits of yoga yielding positive results, including a recent study showing that it could reduce the severity of depression, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said the potential for yoga in preventive medicine is immense.
With International Yoga Day being celebrated on Thursday, Guleria said there are currently 20 different research projects at AIIMS which are focused on a yoga-based lifestyle, ranging from its effects on patients with migraine to those with chronic bronchitis to rehabilitation for those who have suffered a stroke.
“There is immense potential for yoga in preventive medicine. Especially for those who have a history of a certain disease, or are at risk due to age or weight — they should consider including yoga in their lifestyle as a way of prevention,” said the AIIMS director.
He added that in the past four years, since the first Yoga Day, there has been an increase in interest among faculty members, and research into yoga: “There has been a larger interest into research aspects of yoga. There has also been more and more funding from different agencies like ICMR and the AYUSH ministry.”
