UNITED NATIONS(TIP):  An incredible event where people from various walks of life shared their stories on how yoga transformed their lives during a session here to mark the 4th International Day of Yoga.From renowned yoga masters, a war veteran to a yoga teacher who suffered from epilepsy and later founded a yoga organization for the hearing-impaired, there were many inspiring stories on the healing power of yoga.

India’s Permanent Mission to the UN organized a panel discussion ‘Conversation with Yoga Masters’, on the theme of ‘Yoga for Peace’ at the world body’s headquarters yesterday.

Speakers at the event included Yoga therapist, academic, writer and Founder Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA) Deemed University, Bengaluru H. R. Nagendra, peace activist and author Eric Bowman, yoga teacher & founder of DeafYoga Foundation Lila Lolling, Acharya of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Srinivasan, war veteran John Bennett and Founder and Virtual Reality Director at MYSTICS Madhusudan Balasubramanian.

The event was attended by yoga practitioners, spiritual leaders, diplomats and members of civil society. Panelists shared their wisdom and experience to enrich collective understanding of how practicing Yoga can foster peace and harmony in wider society.

Nagendra underscored the message of sharing with fellow human beings and said people should give back to “create a wonderful society.” He said yoga teaches mankind to share and give and if a person is at peace within, he will impart peace to others. “This creates harmony, love, affection between people,” he said adding that the mindset of people wanting more and more should change and they should give back to society as much as they can. “Yoga makes this possible,” he said. Calling on people to perform karma yoga and seva yoga, he said “the more you give, the more you get enriched. Whatever you receive in life, you should give more back,” he said.

Lolling shared with the audience that she was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 15 years old and she grew frustrated as no amount of prescription medicine or exercise helped her. “I was frustrated for years and then finally I found yoga. Yoga greatly impacted me,” she said adding that for the last 13 years she has had no seizures and she does not take any prescription. Lolling said she worked as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and was inspired to reach out to the deaf community by teaching them yoga and enabling them to enjoy its mental and physical benefits.

Lolling said no matter what type of yoga one practices, “yoga reunites us and reinspires us to connect to the essence of who we are. Who we are at the core of our being is peace.” Bennett also shared his story of how yoga helped him manage stress and find peace and harmony in any situation.

Later, talking to PTI, Nagendra also appreciated the work done by Jaipur Foot USA and its Chairman Prem Bhandari for helping people in need. He said such service is also an embodiment of yoga and its message of giving and sharing. Appreciating Bhandari’s service through the Jaipur Foot USA organization, he said “giving free (prosthetic services) to so many people is something very unique and unparalleled. This type of service brings about peace on earth and builds harmony and love. The theme of yoga and of giving back to society is also promoted by such service.”

(Source: PTI)