British House of Commons honours Yoga Guru Ramdev

London, July 18 (UNI) British lawmakers can become ''more energetic, creative and stress-free'' if they start practising Yoga, internationally renowned Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev said.

''Parliamentarians represent and work for the benefit of millions of British citizens. I have come here to help them to improve their physical and mental health, productivity of life, and quality of life, so that they remain more creative and work with more energy, remain stress-free and work towards making their nation more prosperous,'' Swami Ramdev said.

The Yoga Guru, who was honoured at a parliamentary reception held at the British House of Commons yesterday, is on a mission to propagate Yoga, the traditional healing system of India aimed at attaining oneness with the supreme being through physical and mental discipline.

The reception, hosted by Glasgow Central Member of Parliament, Mohammed Sarwar, was attended by a large number of lawmakers, including Lord Kamlesh Patel, Baroness Pola Uddin, Keith Vaz, John McFall, Shailash Vara and Martin Horwood.

Swami Ramdev said he also wanted the British lawmakers to promote yoga in their National Health Service as it would ''reduce their budget, and the money saved, can be utilised for the country's development.'' The event marked the arrival in the UK of Swami Ramdev to conduct a series of workshops, with the first set to begin at Glasgow's Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre tomorrow. More such events are scheduled to be held in London and Coventry.

''It was from this historic building that much of the world, including India, was ruled. I am here today because I want to promote health and healthy living all over the world and especially here in the UK,'' said the Guru, whose ability to simplify yoga techniques has provided numerous health benefits to millions world-wide.

Ms Sunita Poddar, Head of the Patanjali Yoga Peeth (UK) Trust's Scottish campaign, said: ''It is a mark of the esteem in which Swami Ramdev Ji is held throughout the world that he has been given the signal honour of a parliamentary reception.'' Mohammad Sarwar said he was delighted to welcome Swami Ramdev to Parliament. ''He is a household name in Asia and millions of people have benefited from his classes. I am glad that he is about to start his campaign in Scotland and I am sure a great many will benefit from his teaching''.

Swami Ramdev has moved to London after a very popular tour of the US, where he was honoured by the State of New Jersey ''for his remarkable history of steadfast commitment to improving health in the mind, body and spirit and enhancing the well-being of people from all social backgrounds, races and religions.'' The Senate and the General Assembly of the state passed a resolution, saying ''this Legislature honours Swami Ramdev for his firm belief that good health is the birth right of all human beings, and extends best wishes for a successful yoga camp in the US''.

Besides New Jersey, Swami Ramdev held camps at Chicago and New York.

UNI