The PGIMER Chandigarh is aiming to break its own record this International Yoga Day on June 21. Last year, the institute entered the Asia Book of Records after 1,924 healthcare workers participated in a yoga session organised on campus. This time, the PGIMER plans to include up to 3,000 participants.
According to professor Akshay Anand from the Department of Neurology and in charge of the Collaborative Centre for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), efforts are underway to include healthcare workers from across the Tricity. A special committee has been formed, and both government and private medical institutions, as well as the Indian Medical Association (IMA), are being involved in the coordination process.
The interest in yoga at the PGIMER goes beyond symbolic celebrations. The institute has been conducting scientific research into the effects and benefits of yoga for years. The Collaborative Centre for Mind-Body Interventions, run jointly by CCRYN, New Delhi, and PGIMER, focuses on studying how yoga impacts the human body and mind.
Similar work is also being done at AIIMS Delhi, and several studies have shown that yoga can help manage chronic conditions such as arthritis and polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), and lower back pain. Researchers believe that yoga, when practiced consistently, can bring measurable improvements in overall health.
The PGIMER has also extended yoga facilities to attendants of patients. “Most people who come to the hospital are already under stress. Many have to stay for days, go through long queues, and face constant anxiety. This takes a mental toll, and yoga helps the stress and anxiety levels,” a specialised yoga trainer said.
To address this issue, the institute has started weekly yoga sessions, held twice a week on its campus. These sessions aim to offer emotional relief to attendants and help them cope better with the hospital environment.
