Mysuru: Thanks to a series of yoga performances and the general awareness created on Mysuru being the International Yoga Capital, yoga courses offered by government and private institutions have found increased takers these days.

Interestingly, the courses that had fewer admissions earlier, are witnessing a lot of demand since the last two years, especially after the United Nations declared International Yoga Day on June 21.

Take for example the Government Nature Cure and Yoga College (GNCYC) in Mysuru that has been playing an important role in popularising yoga by offering courses and carrying out activities round the year. College sources told Star of Mysore that they were planning to increase the student intake from the present 25 to 60.

GNCYC is the first Government Naturopathy & Yogic Science College in Karnataka and third in India. Located on the KRS Road, opposite PKTB Sanatorium, Brindavan Extension, the institution was established in 2006 by the Government of Karnataka.

It offers yoga and naturopathy treatment procedures and is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. It offers a five-year undergraduate course – Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS).

College sources said that over the last two years, demand for BNYS course has gone up. The course was launched 10 years ago with an intake of four students. Gradually, the intake went up to 25 and now the plan is to increase the intake to 60. The institute will soon start a post-graduate course in yoga and naturopathy and is awaiting an approval from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

The courses offered by GNCYC combines theory, practical and internship programmes and admission to the courses is through common entrance test. Learning focuses on lectures, seminars, workshop with hands- on experience in patient care.

Sources said that a team from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences had visited the college premises recently and only a formal approval letter is awaited for the increase in intake and to start a post-graduation course. Apart from academics, the institution has been running yoga camps for public on a regular basis.

Private yoga institutes

The demand for short-term and long term yoga courses offered by many private yoga institutions and yoga studios in city has also gone up. There are many institutions that offer yoga courses in several areas including Lakshmipuram, Gokulam, Kuvempunagar and Vijayanagar.

Following many yoga sessions in Mysuru, national and international-level publicity, there are many takers for regular yoga sessions. “Usually, people from foreign countries come to us for a short-term course that is conducted for 15 to 30 days to suit their travel schedule. Now there is constant demand for long-term courses that are conducted for 90 days or more,” said a yoga studio owner in Lakshmipuram.

Usually, it is a vacation time for yoga studios and institutes in city from April to June as it is off-season. “The scene has changed now as many salaried class yoga enthusiasts from across the country, especially from metro cities, enrolling their names for yoga classes,” he said and added that professionals are taking up yoga classes to bust stress.