AP Governor, several ministers and officials take part in International Yoga Day celebrations

Yoga is an art of science for healthy living which focusses on bringing harmony between the mind and body, Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer said on Wednesday marking the International Yoga Day.

The Governor participated in the Yoga Day celebration held at Raj Bhavan and noted that yoga reduces stress.

''Yoga focusses on bringing harmony between the mind and body, keeps the body fit and helps in reducing stress,'' Nazeer said in a press release issued by Raj Bhavan.

According to Nazeer, yoga offers immense benefits such as boosting immunity, increasing inner energy and endowing physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages.

The Governor, special chief secretary to Governor Anil Kumar Singhal, joint secretary P S Suryaprakash and other officials performed yoga postures.

Ch Ramanand and Ch Pravallika from the AYUSH department demonstrated various yoga postures and explained the health benefits of each of them.

Meanwhile, M T Krishna Babu, special chief secretary, health and family welfare, also took part in Yoga Day celebrations by performing some postures during a yoga session with other officials and employees.

Likewise, the BJP also marked Yoga Day at Bhimavaram, Visakhapatnam and other places across the state.

At Visakhapatnam, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan participated in yoga celebrations, followed by Devusinh Chauhan, MoS for Communications, at Lepakshi in Anantapur district and Sunil Deodhar, BJP national secretary and co-incharge for AP, at Ongole in Prakasam district.

Similarly, Bharati Pravin Pawar, MoS for Health and Family Welfare, participated in yoga celebrations with a group of girls in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district.

The UN General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day following a resolution moved by India and the first International Yoga Day was observed in 2015.