After the biggest yoga health workshop seen in Scotland, the guru who led it – Swami Ramdev Ji – said ‘I’m happy. But I don’t need to come back because you will soon have 100 teachers as a result of my visit.’

His philosophy is that good health is humanity’s birthright.

Organised by Southside care home owner Sunita Poddar, the intensive workshops attracted between 800 and 1000 people for the 6am start on six consecutive mornings at the SECC in July.

The daily practice of the breathing exercises demonstrated by Swami Ji led to some amazing results.
A young woman born with cerebral palsy and who had been brought in her wheelchair to the event – walked to the microphone as proof that the breathing exercises had worked for her.

An ear, nose and throat consultant said the National Health Service would save billions of pounds if people learned this form of yoga.

The sole Hindu padre to the UK army, navy and airforce, told how he had benefitted personally from Swami Ji’s yog exercises. ‘I am working to have this form of yog included as part of the training to all soldiers. It would reduce stress, greatly,’ he said.

In an exclusive interview, Swami Ji told the LOCAL NEWS, ‘The main health problems in Glasgow come from the heavy food and the alcohol habits. Life is stressful here – as with everywhere in the world. But if people don’t practice these breathing exercises then communities will be divide, there will be more anger and frustration and more mental health problems. It will be a major achievement for Glasgow to become a Healthy City. But with the 100 new yog teachers as a result of my visit, then slowly, good health can be won.’

Admitting that his work is his rest, the guru found no difficulty in maintaining the interest of his very diverse audience for two and a half hours and making them laugh with his gentle jokes. In India he regularly has workshops of up to 100,000 people. His worldwide audience on the satellite tv channel Aastha is counted in billions. When asked where he got his energy from for his 365 days a year schedule, he simply looked up and pointed to the sky.

He praised Mrs Poddar for the Glasgow event. ‘There were many challenges. Such a big programme had never been held outside Asia before. But she and her team made it happen.’

Choosing to address his audiences in Glasgow in Hindi, he later explained he didn’t want to break the rhythm of the teaching which was based in Sanskrit, by using a foreign language.

Among the guests who appeared on the platform with Swami Ji were Westminster MP Mohammad Sarwar, Councillor Shaukat Butt, Bailie Hanzala Malik and Deputy Lord Provost Allan Stewart.

At a civic reception for the guru, Mrs Poddar challenged the Council to have yog classes in the city chambers. Deputy Lord Provost, Allan Stewart took up the challenge and went to the next day’s session to experience yog for himself. He later told the LOCAL NEWS he supported Mrs Poddar’s proposal and would do what he could to help.

Mrs Poddar said she felt privileged to have been given the chance to bring Swami Ji to Glasgow. ‘Training for the new yog teachers starts on Thursday August 9, so we’re looking forward to spreading the word.’