Ramdev teaches yoga to Bihar legislators
by Ajay Kumar

      Patna: Stressed out legislators of the Bihar State Assembly were provided a two-hour therapeutic yoga session by the self-styled godman, Baba Ramdev, in Patna on Tuesday. Swami Ramdev is the current rage in many parts of north India and claims to cure illnesses through breathing exercises and traditional medicines. The yoga teacher is seen demonstrating his yogic cures on several television channels each day and has many followers. Legislators and ministers paid absolute attention as the Baba went through his yogic motions, especially his famed 'pranayams' or breathing exercises with dedication. One of the legislators, Rameswar Chaurasia, said the yogic exercises were indeed beneficial for a number of ailments, as he himself had experienced it.

    "I have been following the teachings of Baba Ramdev for some time now, especially the breathing exercises that aid weight loss and enhance good health. I could reduce my weight from 78 kilograms to 72 in a few days. The biggest gain was that, I could then read without using reading glasses. I discovered this benefit by chance when once I tried reading a newspaper but realised that I had forgotten my glasses at home. But this benefit went away when I stopped doing Swamiji's prescribed yoga exercises for a few months in between. So continuity is a key," said Chaurasia. "In the two hour session these legislators sat listening to and following me in rapt attention, just as 30,000 people do when I am imparting lessons to them. I can see that they were trying to learn as much of the yoga and breathing exercises as they could and absorb as much knowledge as possible. If they imbibe this in their daily activities, they will surely see a positive change in health and attitudes. Positive attitudes will go a long way in moulding opinions and constructing a good, healthy and progressive Bihar state with its people enjoying high values and prosperity," said Ramdev. Sushil Kumar Modi, states deputy chief hopes this will bring a positive change not just in the health but the attitudes of politicians. Modi also marvelled at the way this event had brought the ruling party and the opposition together, without an issue to rant about. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could not attend the session due to enforcement of a model election code of conduct by the state election commission for the upcoming panchayat election and by-poll for Patna West assembly seat, but is known to be an avid practitioner of yoga.

    Ramdev was in the thick of a controversy after a Communist lawmaker, Brinda Karat, alleged that ayurvedic medicines dispensed at his clinics contain human or animal remains. But the northern Uttaranchal government, where he has set up a hermitage and medical pharmacy, has given a clean chit to his medicines after laboratory tests.

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