Yoga guru Ramdev and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have declined any Padma award for them reportedly being considered by central government on the occasion of the 66th Republic Day. In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Ramdev referred to media reports that the Government was considering his name for Padma Vibushan, the second highest civilian award but felt that as an “ascetic” he should refrain from accepting “rewards or honours”.
Baba Ramdev pronunciation (help•info) (born as Ramkrishna Yadav in Haryana) is a spiritual leader known for his contributions in yoga, Ayurveda, politics and agriculture. He is best known for popularising yoga among Indians through his mass yoga camps and televangelism. He founded the Patanjali group of institutions. Ramdev has more recently become a vocal advocate on Indian political issues.
He founded the Divya Yog Mandir Trust in 1995 and in 2003 Aastha TV began featuring him in its morning yoga slot. There he proved to be telegenic and gained a large following.
A large number of people and many celebrities in India and abroad have attended his yoga camps. He has taught yoga to many actors including Amitabh Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty. He became the first non-Muslim to publicly address Muslim clerics at their seminary in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh and has taught yoga in countries such as Britain, the USA and Japan. In 2006, he was invited by Kofi Annan to deliver a lecture on poverty alleviation in a United Nations conference.
With UN designating June 21 as the International Yoga Day, yoga guru Ramdev on Friday said that while credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for championing the initiative leading to the declaration, one must not forget the contribution made by sages and seers to the discipline.
“No prime minister (before Modi) talked about yoga on the global stage. It was Modi ji who ran the campaign for an International Yoga Day and garnered support of 177 countries. This is the first time that a proposal in the UN received the support of 177 countries with not even a single country opposing it.
Less than three months after Modi mooted the proposal, the UN General Assembly has adopted an India-led resolution for declaring June 21 as ‘International Day of Yoga’ as it recognised that “Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being”.
Asked about the idea of introducing yoga education in schools, Ramdev said Modi had discussed the same with him before he had become prime minister even as he added that he was committed to spreading yoga in the fields of education, health, etc –
Since time immemorial man has seeked for making himself strong and fit. May it be any civilization the evolved in the world; he has constantly worked upon making his body fit and fine. Everyone knows that diseased body and mind are unable to perform day to day activities. Yoga is one of the key factors that help us getting away from diseases. Yoga since was developed by Yoga preacher Patanjali. Acharya Patanjali can be regarded as God of YOGA. Since centuries Indian civilization has been proud of this since. Actually yoga has been a science that not only makes body fit but also corrects the mind.
Modern researches have proved that yoga has a great impact on mind. Even doctors worldwide these days are prescribing yoga for being fit and fine to their patients. So many celebrities all round the globe have adopted yoga as their fitness regimen. Yoga is one of the most advanced sciences that were developed in the primitive world.
Benefits of Yoga
Increased flexibility of the body
Increases muscle strength and tones up the body
Improves respiration
Increases energy flow of the body
Improves vitality
Helps in maintain the normal metabolism of the body.
Helps in losing weight
Helps in promoting circulation of the body.
Improved athletic performance
Helps in protection from injury
