NCERT books a yoga day date for students

Author: Akshaya Mukul
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 9, 2015
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NCERT-books-a-yoga-day-date-for-students/articleshow/47592916.cms

Every organization seems to be busy preparing to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21. Not to be left behind, National Council of Educational Research and Training has also jumped into the fray and in a record time brought out textbooks - Yoga: A Healthy Way of Living -- for upper primary and secondary classes to be made compulsory as part of health and physical education.

The books to be unveiled on the Yoga Day, sources said, have been brought out at the behest of the HRD ministry and with help from institutions like Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Pune-based Kaivalyadham and other institutions. The textbooks intend to teach history, theory and practice of yoga, from Surya Namaskar to Kapalabhati. In fact, Surya Namaskar has been specifically mentioned as part of yogic practice for personality development. These books also intend to become a guide for students and teachers.

In his foreword, NCERT's officiating director BK Tripathi writes, "The material is explained in simple language and also profusely illustrative so that students can learn and practise it even at home." Teachers are also expected to learn the "asanas listed in the syllabus after some initial training in yogasanas".

Tripathi told TOI, "Books have been brought as part of National Curriculum Framework of 2005." However, neither his foreword nor the explanatory text about the book mention NCF-2005 even once. Asked why has it taken a decade for NCERT to bring out yoga textbooks, Tripathi said, "Books on the allied areas take time."

Reading from the first proof of the book, a source said, "The idea behind the book is to develop personality and manage stress among adolescent children through yogic activities." The books also include specific guidelines related to yogic practices (asanas, pranayamas, kriyas and meditation). There is also brief description of each yogic posture followed by a description of steps or stages for practice. Sources said the textbook is more practice-oriented aligning with the syllabi of yoga which will be an integral part of the syllabus of health and physical education for classes IX and X.