India is often referred to as the land of yogis. But these 60 yogis are non-Indians and have reached Kerala as ambassadors of yoga from 22 counties. Yoga is the only thread that unites these complete strangers. To highlight the importance of yoga, the different asanas and its other aspects, the Yoga Ambassador Tour has been organised by Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI) in association with Ministry of Ayush and Kerala Tourism.
The aim of the tour, according to Anish Kumar, president of ATTOI, is to promote fitness and spirituality while on holidays as well. Elaborating on it, Anish says, “Though our aim is to promote yoga, this entire event also has a tourism angle to it. One would find it interesting to know that almost more than half the participants of the tour are yoga tour operators along with being yoga practitioners, teachers, researchers and disciples. These people conduct tours for people from their country who are interested in yoga. They have associations with various yoga centers in our country, where these tourists are enrolled. Moreover, these tourists are also interested in Ayurveda, which brings them to Kerala. This is such an achievement for tourism. We, therefore, thought it will be enlightening to them if given an opportunity to do yoga in nature’s lap, which will heal their bodies and souls at the same time.”
The tour, which started from Trivandrum, also includes places like Kanyakumari, Kovalam, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Munnar and Kochi. The tour, according to Anish, is an effort of the company along with the Kerala Tourism Department to attract more tourists to our land, who, along with experiencing the beauty of it will also promote its significance globally as a sought-after destination to practise yoga.
The participants of the tour include yogis of different age groups and those practicing various types of yoga. Commenting on whether traditional yoga is the best of the lot or commercial yoga that gives priority to fitness, Krzysztof Stec, from Poland who has been practicing yoga since 1975, says, “I am personally a practitioner of traditional yoga as I feel it gives me the spiritual discipline I am yearning for. Moreover, the most important aspect I love about traditional yoga is that it is dynamic. I can do 40 repetitions of Surya Namaskaram in just 5 minutes. The spontaneity clubbed with ease is what keeps me driving. But it depends on how one likes to approach yoga. Some people like to see yoga as a part of their fitness regime only. They like to experiment with different types of yoga that include poses, which help in weight loss or muscle strengthening. However, if it is bringing a physical discipline to your life and if that is what you are looking for then everything is fine.”
Krzysztof, in the quest to promote the significance of yoga has also published a book, 'Suryanamaskara Sun Salutations'.
Sharing his experience of the tour, Krzysztof says it gave him ultimate happiness to do yoga in various places in Kerala as it is gifted with beauty and there is serenity in abundance.
As a yoga tour operator, Helen Stephani from Indonesia is of the opinion that the tour will promote yoga not only as a trend but as a lifestyle for better life in the world. “The trip is an excellent way to promote Kerala as a yoga retreat and wellness destination. All hard work by the people involved in this event is really appreciated,” she says, adding that it was only after she started practicing Yoga that she has got the enthusiasm to work towards her dream.
“Yoga, to me, is an inseparable part of my lifestyle that connects me with god, nature and fellow humans. Moreover, I have attained physical fitness through yoga. I have been able to get rid of the muscle cramps and pain after I started practicing yoga,” she added.
The participants have lauded the efforts made by the organisers to welcome them and educate them about the culture and tradition of Kerala.
Diana Grohs from Germany says that even though she has been coming to India very often, as she concentrates only on yoga trips, she used to suggest Kerala as a destination for only those looking to capture the essence of Ayurveda. “But from now on I can tell my clients that Kerala houses some stupendous places to do yoga as well.”
Sharing one of her concerns, Diana says that Indians should understand the significance of yoga as people in the other parts of the world do. “It is unfortunate that the present generation though knows the importance of yoga is not keen on understanding it to the core, which in turn has limited it into a means of fitness. I hope that tours of this kind will also become popular in the country where yoga originated,” she adds.
A fitness technique or a key to mental health, yoga serves both purposes. It depends on how one approaches it.
