அமீரகத்தில் அரசாங்க வாகன ஓட்டுனர்களுக்கு யோகா பயிற்சி

அமீரகத்தில் அரசாங்க வாகன ஓட்டுனர்களுக்கு யோகா பயிற்சி கொடுக்கப்படுகிறது. இதன் மூலம் பல்வேறு நாட்டினர் பயன்பெறுகிறார்கள்.

Yoga-Loving Bus Drivers
By Subramani Dharmarajan, Staff reporter

Every morning they climb into their heavy vehicles from garages in Hor Al Anz and near the airport to head for garbage collection points from where they will motor down to the sprawling dumping grounds in Sonapur.

It’s tough work on gruelling roads. But now the city’s bin lorry drivers have a new way to ditch their stress and frustration: Yoga.

More than 80 Municipality drivers recently took part in an Art of Living road alertness workshop, run by the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) and supported by the Municipality, the Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Police.

“If others are not driving properly, then we have to take precautions,” part-time instructor Suman Rao tells them between short workouts.

It begins with a warm-up session to loosen up, followed by a set of breathing exercises coordinated with limb movements and a meditation programme aimed at making the mind quiet yet alert and focused on the present.

These exercises take between 15 and 20 minutes every day, according to Suman. “We also offer a one-hour follow-up session once a week or once in two weeks to help them along and check if they are doing it properly,” she said.

IAHV conducted such a programme for 106 Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) staff last November as part of the Dewa Safety Week, following it up with a similar course for Emirates Driving Institute.

“Teaching driving is also very stressful,” Rao added.

Highway to health: Municipality drivers practise yoga techniques under the eye of an instructor

Drivers Speak

Akhtar Hussain
36, from Pakistan
Nine years’ driving
I had lots of pain in my right leg and was unable to bend for prayers. I took many medicines but they had little effect. Now this four-day course has done wonders for me. The pain has greatly reduced and I can bend during prayers without difficulty.

Samiullah Khan
30, from Pakistan
Four years’ driving
I used to quickly get angry, but after doing this yoga, the mind is cool while driving. This is also helps improve relationships with people.

Shakeel Sarfaraz
35, from Pakistan
Eleven years’ driving
I used to constantly feel sleepy during the day but this session has snapped me out of it. Now I wake up on time to report for duty. Earlier I had to keep splashing water on my eyes and smoke to keep awake while driving.

V.G. Kutty
58, from India
33 years’ driving
I used to suffer back pain after hard days of driving and have difficulty getting sleep. Now the pain has greatly subsided after this session and I get a good night’s sleep.