• The theme for the day was "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which simply means "One World, One Family, One Health".
• Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word yoga means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of body and consciousness.
Image: /SAMUEL NG'ANG'A
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba has urged Kenyan athletes to integrate yoga into their training to enhance their mental and spiritual strength.
"Yoga teaches us the art of peace, not just for the body but also for the mind and soul. Additionally, it makes your body flexible and, therefore, boosts your health. I urge our athletes to introduce yoga in their training," said Namwamba.
"For someone like Faith Kipyegon to break two records in two weeks, it requires great mental status to sustain the pressure. This is what yoga offers. I am a yoga person and I can attest to its benefits," he added.
"Yoga is wholistic. It will help our athletes come down mentally and be focused. It is a valuable aspect of training for the elite competition. For people who want to stay fit and fight depression, yoga is the best way to go."
Namwamba was speaking during the 9th commemoration of International Day of Yoga on Sunday at the Premier Club, Nairobi.
The day's objective is to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. The theme for the day was "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which simply means "One World, One Family, One Health" encouraging people to enhance unity all over the world.
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word yoga means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of body and consciousness.
Yoga is known for disease prevention, health promotion, and management of lifestyle-related disorders. Today, its popularity has grown worldwide and is practiced in various forms.
The event was organised by the High Commissioner of India in Nairobi, Namgya Khampa. Namgya said yoga is a gift from India to humanity and it helps unite the body, mind and soul.
She thanked CS Namwamba for gracing the event and for promoting yoga in the country. "I am so happy to see the Sports Cabinet Secretary with us here. Thank you for taking the role of urging Kenyan athletes to add yoga to their daily routines. Your presence here is testimony that yoga is beneficial," Namgya said.
"I urge all participants here to continue doing yoga to boost their health and well-being as well as attract others to do yoga so that we can have a healthy nation," she added.
Namwamba, who was attending his fourth such event, said yoga has further strengthened relationships between the two countries, sentiments that were echoed by Namgya.
"The relationship between the two nations has greatly improved as a result of yoga. I thank the government of India for spreading yoga awareness in the country," Namwamba said.
During the event, the winners of the yoga competition that was organised to encourage people do yoga, were awarded with certificates and price money.
Bismas Kibuye was the overall winner and took home Sh30,000 while Peter Kiunjuri pocketed Sh20,000 for coming second. Mary Muthoni finished third and went home with Sh15,000.
Kibuye urged the government to integrate yoga in education saying: "I am a beneficiary of yoga. Before taking up yoga, I was too heavy but now my body is in good shape. My mental health I can say has improved. It could be better if yoga was to be introduced in schools so that kids can practice it from a young age to strengthen their health."
This day was adopted as a result of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi pleading with the United Nations (UN) to adopt the International Day of Yoga during the 69th session of the UN assembly in 2014.
"Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies the unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being," said Modi.
On June 21, the Prime Minister will lead a yoga session for the first time at UN Headquarters.