Puducherry: Yoga to be integrated into nursing curriculum

Puducherry: The Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research (CYTER), SBV, has introduced modified modules on the therapeutic potential of the practice of attaining body-mind harmony through yoga into the nursing curriculum. Nurses are going to learn the aspects of yoga that help patients recuperate from illness. This curriculum has been introduced at the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (MGMCRI) under the Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV).

The BSc nursing curriculum at the college is to incorporate 90 hours of Yoga Therapy training through CYTER during the three-year course."The first year of yoga study is to incorporate 45 hours of Yoga classes , the second year is to have 30 hours of learning, while the final year would call for 15 hours of practice."said Professor Bhavanani. The first batch of 100 nurses is about to finish their 46 hours of yoga learning.

CYTER Deputy Director, Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, comparing the curriculum content of the three medical streams,said, it was largely similar for all streams, with a few minor modifications.

Two years ago the institute had pioneered the incorporation of Yoga concepts in the MBBS curriculum and later for dental education as well.

While MBBS Yoga curriculum teaches students how Yoga could complement modern medicinal interventions in the management of lifestyle disorders, such as diabetes or hypertension, dental yoga curriculum incorporates the ancient body and mind tool as a self care means towards postural problems.

Dean, Nursing Faculty and Principal of Kasturba Gandhi Nursing College, K. Renuka, defined the exposure as the first that medical, dental and nursing students of a medical university were receiving in the form of regular training in yoga.

Speaking at the 6th Foundation Day on the theme of introducing Yoga in Nursing Education’ SBV Vice Chancellor Professor K.R. Sethuraman, reminded nursing students of their vital role in healthcare. Addressing them as the primary caregivers for patients he stressed the importance of Yoga in their personal and professional lives.

Professor Bhavanani on the other hand pointed at the need for holistic integration of modern and traditional systems for best outcomes in patient care.

“It is imperative that advances in medicine include the holistic approach of Yoga to face the current challenges in healthcare. The antiquity of Yoga must be united with the innovations of modern medicine to improve quality of life throughout the world,” he said.

Professor N. Ananthakrishnan, Dean, Allied Health Sciences, Professor A.R. Srinivasan, SBV Registrar, Vijaya, Yoga educator from Gitananda Yoga Society of Berlin, Germany, Professor VN Mahalakshmi, Vice Principal, MGMCRI, Professor Madanmohan, CYTER Director and Meena Ramanathan, Yoga therapist were among those who took part in the event.

A book on ‘Yoga Practical Notes’, compiled and edited by Sri G Dayanidy, lecturer at CYTER, was released on the occasion.