25 February

The 1st Asian International Yoga Sport Championship 2019 will deepen public interest in yoga as a sport and encourage people to practice it, said Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe in Yangon yesterday morning.

Speaking at the awards ceremony of the championship, the Union Minister said that practicing yoga has an impact on health as it improves the biological and chemical processes in the body.

Yoga ensures physical fitness apart from mental peace, he added.

“Scientific research has proved the effectiveness of yoga on health,” he said, adding, “Yoga can increase flexibility, muscle strength and tone, and lung capacity; improve cardio and circulatory health, and mind-body connection; and combat illness.”

“Yoga also prevents hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disorder and vein diseases and depression through reducing the bad cholesterol in the blood,” he explained. “As Yoga sport includes the knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, it can also deepen the understanding of sports principles,” he noted.

He then guaranteed the ministry’s assistance for the progress of the sport as it is much helpful for the public health, and suggested the Yoga Association Myanmar to adopt a roadmap and implement its task phase by phase for gaining extra success.

Union Minister Dr. Myint Htwe, Permanent Secretary Dr. Thet Khaing Win and Chair of Yoga Association Myanmar U Zaw Min presented prizes to winners.

Ambassador of Israel to Myanmar Mr Daniel Zonshine and U Zaw Min presented certificates to the persons who have completed the international yoga instructor course.
Fifty participants from Myanmar, India, Thailand, Viet Nam, Laos, Spain, the Netherlands and Canada took part in the championship.—MNA (Translated by TMT)