Gujarat govt to push yoga as cure for diabetes, mental disorders; but maybe it shouldn't

The Modi government’s new found interest in yoga has taken the world by storm with it’s highly publicised International Yoga Day that was held the world over on the 21 June. [caption id=“attachment_2306314” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Beijing: Yoga enthusiasts perform at a session to mark World Yoga Day in Beijing on Sunday. PTI[/caption] Now, the Gujarat government’s AYUSH department has decided to push yoga not only as a mind and body fitness module, but also as a cure for various diseases. According to this reports, Gujarat plans to promote yoga as cure for diabetes, mental disorders.  “This time, we want to take yoga a step ahead from fitness and spread awareness among the public that it could cure various lifestyle disorders like diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems and even various mental problems. The state government approval has already been received for this project,” said Dr Kandarp Desai, director state’s department of AYUSH to Indian Express. Despite the current government’s proclamations, yoga has been popular much before they decided to tout its benefits and shove it down the aam janta’s throats. There’s no denying however that yoga has many benefits. It is a good way to de-stress and get yourself happy. But as Firspost’s G Pramod Kumar pointed out nobody has so far been able to prove how yoga is different from any other form of exercise. He noted: “People feel good and healthy doing it. But a lot of others, who do regular exercises also feel the same. Those who run, cycle and do weight training also vouch for the “high”, the rush of endorphins, they get. There may be several more millions engaged in exercises such as walking, running, cycling, stretching and weight training than those practising Yoga and reaping equal or better benefits - but they don’t make a single cohort because there is no brand that unifies them as Yoga does and there is no allure of spirituality and “5,000 years” of heritage behind what they do.” By proclaiming yoga as the cure for diseases without any outright proof other than their own “beliefs” the government is in fact doing yoga a disservice. According to a  Randomised Control Trials (RCT) in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), it’s not more effective than stretching exercises. In fact, the study says: _“Yoga classes were more effective than a self-care book, but not more effective than stretching classes, in improving function and reducing symptoms due to chronic low back pain, with benefits lasting at least several months.” (_Read more about why the government’s theory on how yoga curing cancer, arthritis, asthma and back pain may not be true  here  ) Scientifically, yoga may help the patients of these ailments, but it is no cure.