The International Day of Yoga witnessed a first-of-its-kind “Convocation Ceremony” for students passing out from short term training courses of the Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council (B&WSSC) under the Skill India Mission on June 21.
B&WSSC offers three specific courses for yoga – Yoga Instructor (B&W) NSQF 4, Yoga Trainer (B&W) NSQF 5 and Senior Yoga Trainer (B&W) NSQF 6. Institutions like the Art of Living, The Yoga Institute and Patanjali have been associated with the sector skill council and have contributed to its success. According to B&WSSC, the states with the highest number of skilled yoga students are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Kerala, and West Bengal. The sector skill council also has vocational education courses in yoga for CBSE schools starting from classes XI & XII.
Skill India’s sustained efforts to help youth leverage various employment opportunities available in the field of yoga, over 1.30 lakh students have been trained as yoga instructors and trainers across the country in the last eight years. They have been trained through different skilling initiatives, primarily Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Short Term Training (STT) & Special Projects by B&WSSC. Today, people across the country are learning yoga through our Skill India training centres and considering it as a career option.
Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, MSDE said, “Yoga is India’s gift to the world. With roots in our ancient Vedic traditions, yoga is a holistic way to develop your inner as well as outer beauty. It is indeed heart-warming to see this convocation ceremony and certificates bringing pride to the instructors, some of whom are aged 60+ and reaffirming the fact that there is no age for sharing knowledge. As we emerge from the detrimental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I foresee an urgent need for skill set enhancement of the potential workforce with a surge in demand for certified Yoga instructors and trainers. I also congratulate B&WSSC for becoming the first ever SSC in our ecosystem to hold a convocation as per directives of the Prime Minister.”
