Accra, Feb. 3, GNA - Ghana can not afford to be left out in the globalization of the practice of Yoga as the most ideal form of health therapy in the 21st Century, a Ghanaian private medical practitioner has indicated.

Dr Mrs Cecilia Nutakor, owner of the CEDAR Clinic in Accra told the Ghana News Agency on Saturday that Yoga, which is an act and science of maintaining once body, is currently an internationally accepted practice used as complementary therapy for several ailments.

"In other parts of the world, Yoga practice through meditation and adherence to good nutrition guide, forms part of health therapy in most clinics and hospitals because it is economical and provides faster recovery rate," Dr Nutakor said.

She made the remarks when the International Association of Black Yoga Teachers, Ghana (IABYT-Ghana) presented assorted food items worth about 2.5 million cedis to the Osu Children's Home in Accra.

The items included a variety of fruits, drinks, bags of rice, cooking oil, and bags of sachet water as part of the Association's social responsibility to mankind. Dr Nutakor who is also a member of the IABYT-Ghana said a lot of misconceptions about Yoga practice had existed in the past, but explained that it was not a religion and had no correlation with any of the religions in any part of the world.

She said: "If Ghanaians would come to this realization and embrace the practice, it would provide them with several health benefits that would increase life expectancy in the country."

"It is inexpensive and hospital bills will reduce drastically for the Ghanaian because the meditation takes one into a process of relaxation, which generates inner peace and happiness thus ensuring efficient functioning of ones system," she explained.

Dr Nutakor said Yoga practice effectively helped managed stress, which also assisted in the cure for ailments such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, arthritis, asthma and stroke.

On nutrition, she said every individual must ensured that he tailored what he ate based on the needs of his body function and added: "Nutrition is not just the food we eat but also ensuing not to eat what your body does not require."

Mr Issah Musah Adams, Public Relations Officer of the IABYT-Ghana who presented the items said the Association believed in sharing, especially with the needy in society.

He said it aims at educating people on how to deal effectively with their physical, mental, and emotional difficulties so as to lead sound healthy lifestyles.

Mrs Mary Amadu, Director of Social Welfare who together with Mrs Eleanor Asamoah, mother of the Home received the items on behalf of the inmates stressed the need for people to be socially responsible to the less fortunate.

She urged organizations and individuals to always show copassion to the deprived in society, especially to orphaned children who came to the world through no fault of theirs. 03 Feb. 07