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Hindus have applauded British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for encouraging yoga among pre-schoolers through its popular Waybuloo children’s TV series, in which animated characters known as Piplings practice Yogo, a gentle form of Yoga.

The Piplings do four Yogo poses at the beginning of each program and later when the Cheebies (children) come to Nara, they repeat the poses together. It encourages parents to try some of the Yogo poses with children, by downloading the Yogo activity sheet. According to reports, Waybuloo provides a chance to get down on the living room floor and join in with some yoga; and that pre-schoolers are twisting/stretching on mat.

Welcoming BBC’s showcasing of yoga and drawing the attention of pre-schoolers and their parents towards it, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, yoga was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that yoga, referred as “a living fossil” whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, was a mental and physical discipline handed down from one guru to next, for everybody to share and benefit from. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical, Zed added.

According to USA’s National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to an estimate, about 16 million Americans, including many celebrities, now practice yoga, Zed notes.

Exceptionally well made, Waybuloo is described as unique in its exploration of emotions and relationships, taking children on a journey through stories of co-operation, friendship and enjoyment. It takes place in the magical world of Nara - a land of happiness, laughter and friendship that’s home to the four Piplings. It is claimed that Waybuloo helps children to: Learn how to relate to friends and the world around them. Launched in 2009, it has 100 episodes and a huge following among pre-school children. Vanessa Hill is Executive Producer.

Founded in 1922, headquartered in Westminster London, and established under the Royal Charter; BBC is world’s largest broadcaster (autonomous public service broadcaster). Mark Thompson is BBC Director-General, while Lord Patten of Barnes and Diane Coyle are Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively of BBC Trustees.