Yoga becoming popular among Chileans in Santiago

By Ravinder Singh Robin

Santiago (Chile) Apr 23 : It was a bit unusual to see a yoga school in a Latin American country like Chile, but classes at a yoga school in Chilean capital Santiago seems to be catching on.

Just three-years-old, the yoga school today has over 700 students practicing yoga. Chilean teachers teach yoga asanas to their students, which they have picked up from India.

Gloria, one of the teachers said she and her fellow practitioners believed that yoga has changed their life and helped to decrease stress. Gloria, who has been managing the yoga school, said that she conceived the idea opening up the yoga school three years ago to attract as many Chilean students as possible.

She added that they have recruited more than five teachers to teach yoga. Fernando Ayala, the Director General (Protocol) of the Chilean Government, who has been practicing yoga for last few years, said that five years ago, he was in India where he learnt about yoga. When he got an opportunity in Santiago, he joined a yoga school. He said that the frequent visits of political leaders and officials between Chile and India, would certainly facilitate the people of each country. Besides teaching yoga, the yoga school also provides books and other related material to students. Each student has to pay 50 dollars a month to learn yoga. Pedrao De Le Fuente, a student, said that his mother used to do yoga and he learnt a few of the lessons from her, while the rest from books. He felt that yoga had completely changed his life. Felipe Paredes Ramosa, another student, added that he was practicing Buddhism, but was unable to get time to practice mediation. So, he joined a yoga school. He said that he had a very special feeling for India where people practice yoga and teach the world about yoga.

ANI