LettersAs Covid-19 hurts mental health, try yoga and meditation to help ease the pain

Name: ‘Breathe in, breathe out’: Yoga helps Bangladesh police boost mental health amid Covid-19 pandemic
Uploaded: 2020-10-20T23:00:22.000Z
Duration: 1 min 46 s
Description: ‘Breathe in, breathe out’: Yoga helps Bangladesh police boost mental health amid Covid-19 pandemic

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Yoga enthusiasts take their routine outdoors, at Tamar Park in Central on April 21. Photo: Winson Wong

Letters

Published: 7:00am, 21 Oct 2020Updated: 7:00am, 21 Oct 2020

I refer to your report “Coronavirus a mental health time bomb, government adviser warns” (October 19). The comments from former Hong Kong justice chief Mr Wong Yan-lung are timely, and definite policies need to be developed to deal with the problem of deteriorating mental health in Hong Kong.

The main concern is our youth and college-going students who are the future of our society. It is the responsibility of the Education Bureau to ensure that learning materials help students train their mind and empower them to face the problems and conflicts of life.

I suggest the introduction of yoga and meditation programmes without delay, not only in places of learning but healing as well. First, this is an ancient discipline to develop a healthy body and a peaceful mind, which needs to be practised for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes every day. All government hospitals and clinics might allot a room wherever possible for learning this discipline, while all high schools and colleges could provide a 20-minute period for their students to engage in yoga and meditation.

There are some yoga studios imparting this knowledge now, but students might not be in a position to afford the fees. Our government may publicise this programme using local media and invite yoga teachers to work out the logistics. Also, many yoga practitioners may opt to work on a voluntary basis or for a nominal charge.

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‘Breathe in, breathe out’: Yoga helps Bangladesh police boost mental health amid Covid-19 pandemic

This is a reliable therapy to alleviate stress and mental health issues. It is not a religion or philosophy of any kind but a simple method of healthy peaceful living.