Mangaluru : If not followed with discipline, yoga will only be a set of exercises. Yoga is much more than body postures, Mangaluru Ramakrishna Mutt president Swami Jithakamananda said.

He was speaking during the valedictory function of ‘Yoga Sparsha’, a yoga camp organised by Patanjali Yoga Pitha at the premises of Shri Bharathi College in Nanthoor on Sunday.

Swami said Yoga should accompany moral values. Only then, real results of yoga will be available. Yoga practitioners should follow non-violence, truth, control of mind etc. This will help in realising the true self, he added.

MLC Ivan D’Souza said Yoga is a deposit for good healthy life. If practised regularly, it will help in a long run, by preventing many diseases along with bringing peace of mind. Yoga promotes good lifestyle, which is a step for a healthy society, he said and added that he has been practising yoga regularly and it had benefitted him to a great extent.

MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik said unhealthy competition these days has led to hectic lifestyle. To have a peaceful life, Yoga should be an undivided part in our everyday schedule. Life should be a manifestation of yoga. United Nations has declared June 21 as International Day for Yoga. Everybody must think about bright future of the nation and should take part in cleanliness drives, to bring about a good change in the society, Ganesh Karnik added.

MLA B A Mohiyuddin Bava said that several countries practising yoga was a tribute to our nation, where Yoga originated.

Yoga trainer Prasanna Dikshith said Patanjali Yoga Pitha has trained around 17 lakh people in the State by organising camps. He urged the government to include yoga in school curriculum.