CRPF personnel practice yoga to combat Kashmir's harsh weather

Personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are practicing yoga for balancing mind and body to combat harsh weather conditions while guarding one of the most difficult terrains on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.

At the time when Kashmir is reeling under intense cold wave and people prefer to stay indoors in their cosy homes a soldier has to be on the road side for 8-10 hours doing his duty.

Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Kashmir, Kishor Kumar, said on Tuesday that it was must for soldiers to keep warm on duty guarding the borders for unending long hours during intense cold weather.

"It is necessary that these soldiers are made to do some exercises in the yoga form so that they have metal stability and agility in the body, warmness in their body so that they can fight the tough cold conditions here and are able to do their duties properly," he said.

Braving this intense cold and keeping a tight vigil to maintain peace in valley, soldiers derive strength from yogic stances, which keeps them going strong.

Soldiers said practicing yoga for at least half an hour on rising builds their endurance to face tough situations.

"There is too much snowfall here and the climate is also really cold so to produce warmness inside the body, we make them do yoga and we do such yoga exercises which help them to fight the mental issues and to maintain their bodies as they are on duty almost the whole day," said yoga instructor Ved Prakash Joshi.

Practicing different yoga postures keeps their body warm relaxing the muscles and making their mind alert.

Joshi said various yogic stances (asanas) help to maintain body heat and oxygen level that gives a kick to the soldiers to perform their duties in the best possible way.