New Delhi:The “Yoga Break” protocol of the Ministry of AYUSH, suspended after the onset of the Covid-19 protocol, has been resumed with effect from Friday. The AYUSH ministry resumed the demonstration and practice the Yoga Break (Y-Break) Protocol today at the AYUSH Bhavan and MDNIY campuses in the national capital. Taking account of the currently prevailing health emergency, additional emphasis was laid on breathing exercise (pranayama), in view of its effectiveness in increasing the lungs capacity. The demonstration and training will continue for ten minutes daily in the lawns of AYUSH Bhavan and participants from various offices in the vicinity have enlisted to join the same. Strict adherence to the norms of social distancing and other guidelines of the government are being ensured. The AYUSH ministry will extend this facility free of cost to the staff and officers of various offices situated in GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi in the coming weeks.The five-minute protocol is intended to introduce people at the work place to yoga, and also to help them to take a break from the work schedule and to refresh and re-focus. The AYUSH ministry in association with Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) developed the five-minute yoga break protocol to de-stress, refresh and re-focus the workers at the work place in 2019. The protocol which was developed by a group of eminent yoga experts contains a few stretching yoga practices including Tadasana, Kati Chakrasana, Nadisodhana Bhramari Pranayama and Dhyana. The protocol was initially launched on trial basis in January 2020 and was found to be effective, based on an analysis of feedback of participants.Practising the ancient Indian discipline brings balance and promotes well being of individuals. Due to change in working habits, particularly of sitting for long hours on the computer, a majority of the work force feels work
stress. Such stress may decrease the focus at work which may further hamper their efficiency and effectiveness.