MU Chairman says Yoga should be part of the education system

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 20, 2017: With International day of Yoga June 21, tomorrow, it is time to recall how Yoga has come to the fore after the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Mangalore University has been offering a two-year postgraduate course in Yogic Science in its campus in science stream since 1998-2000. After offering one-year postgraduate diploma in Yogic Science in 2011-12 in Mangalagangotri, there was a fall back. The university resumed offering the PG Diploma on its campus from 2016-17 and began offering the PG Diploma in its constituent — University College in Mangaluru — from 2015-16.  Krishna Sharma, Chairman, Department of Human Consciousness and Yogic Science at the university, made some vital points on yoga education, a gist  of it :

The syllabus is submitted to the university. Its draft regulations have been approved by all decision-making bodies of the university and the university has issued a notification to this effect. Now, colleges will have to come forward to introduce Yogic Science as one of the optional subjects in B.A., B.Sc., and B.Com. and other undergraduate courses.

From this year onwards. Of about 5,000 candidates, who appeared for the test in the country this January, 350 candidates have passed. It included 12 postgraduates of our department in the university.

Improper teaching and imparting training; if this has to be corrected, yoga should become part of our education system, if not from pre-university level, from undergraduate level. Yoga is a broader subject and not merely doing asanas (postures).

Job opportunities are in spas, resorts, and yoga studios. Some have opened their own yoga schools and some are into teaching.

The postgraduates employed in West Asian countries earn between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 70,000 per month. In China, they earn between Rs. 80,000 and Rs. 1 lakh per month. In some other foreign countries, they earn more than a lakh per month. In India, the salary ranged between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 30,000. Those students who have opened their own yoga schools earn Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1.5 lakh a month.

It is a policy decision of the government which has introduced three-level tests for the professionals to pass to standardise yoga teaching. It a question of debate as all education institutes teaching yoga may not be imparting quality education in a proper manner. On the other hand, those who have obtained quality postgraduation feel there is no need for them to write another test. Now who will listen to us?