ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary — Brightly coloured yoga mats replaced desks and chairs, on June 18, as students of Annotto Bay Primary were “schooled” in yoga.

“Yoga helps to balance your holistic being. It strengthens both the mind and the body,” High Commissioner of India to Jamaica Mayank Joshi told students.

He worked with Ashish Healthcare Foundation to host the initiative.

According to the diplomat, Annotto Bay Primary is the first school in Jamaica to participate in activities to mark International Yoga Day which is observed on June 21. This year’s global celebration is being held under the theme ‘Yoga for healthy aging’.

For fifth grader Michelle Brown, the yoga session was “exhilarating and fun”.

“It is new to me as I have always seen it on TV. Doing it now is like doing PE [physical education class] but it is more relaxing and fun,” she said as she stretched her body into some of the newly learnt poses.

Students of Annotto Bay Primary get yoga lessons on June 18 as their teachers and officials look on.

In addition to yoga lessons, Ashish Healthcare Foundation donated $50,000 towards the school’s Special Needs Unit.

“Money can be stolen, but a good education can never be stolen,” said Dr Nagendra Babu Chandolu who heads the foundation.

The school also received a donation of books to strengthen its literacy programme.

Principal Wayne Tatam expressed gratitude for the gifts and wellness training while Member of Parliament for St Mary South Eastern Christopher Brown lauded the foundation for its continued philanthropy in education and health across the parish.

— Ingrid Henry