A study of Effect of Yoga Practices on Indian Army in Ladakh

Yoga, the ancient Indian health tradition is changing the lives of the people worldwide. Yoga has the potential to play multi-faceted roles in strengthening the quality health care system. Though it is gaining popularity in recent times, the sages and rishis in India have been practicing it since ages at the high peaks of the Himalayas. But when part of these Himalayan ranges turn into the world's highest and coldest battlefield, it needs to be ensured that our soldiers guarding our dizzy heights remain in good health and endure extreme weather conditions. Perhaps, this is the reason why the Indian army has adopted yoga for its troops in the Himalayas. The present paper seeks to explore as to how at altitude varying between 10,000-21,000 feet and temperature dipping to -65 degree Celsius, where slight physical activity on the part of the soldiers leave them gasping for breath and a little negligence can either cause severe damage of human body, the DRDO's Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) lab and High Altitude Mountain Research Centre (HAMRC),Leh has devised a Yoga regime for the soldiers in posted to the region to make their lives better in the Ladakh region.Through the study of Yoga practices adopted by Indian army in Ladakh, the present paper would focus on the transformation of lives of the Indian army soldiers posted at Siachen Glacier, the world's highest and coldest battlefield and other parts of Ladakh. The paper would try to find out how Yoga is helping the soldiers to maintain healthy and stress-free lifestyle in Ladakh and helping in the physical extremes of high altitude and hypoxia, besides the psychological stresses of isolation, monotony, separation from the family etc.