Head of Bihar Yoga Bharati, Niranjanananda Saraswati, has a prescription to help energy department officials fight stress as they rush to meet chief minister Nitish Kumar's November 2016 deadline by when to provide uninterrupted power in every household. It's yoga, of course.

Niranjanananda said: "Stress increases blood pressure, induces nervousness, anxiety, sleep problem and forces one to not follow their regular diet. It is the most important factor behind ill health. It affects endocrine glands and triggers chemical changes as well." The programme was organised by the Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL) where energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and secretary Pratyaya Amrit were present.

The guru said people were becoming aggressive and excited, but were unable to focus on anything at one go. He also said one should at least keep 30 minutes aside in order to practise asanas (postures) and pranayams (breathing exercises) to stay mentally, physically and spiritually fit. Few of his recommended asanas were - Tadasana, Tiryak Tadasana, Kati Chakrasana and Surya Namaskar.

"When you get up in the morning, recite Mahamrityunjaya mantra followed by Gayatri mantra 11 times each. It should be followed by reciting 32 names of Goddess Durga thrice before leaving the bed.

The mantras are positive affirmations for your subconscious mind. At work, if you feel things are not falling in place, take a break for few minutes and practice Bhramari and Nadishodhan pranayams five to seven times. Bhramari is in fact like a divine remedy for high blood pressure and if anybody practices it for three months, he will get rid of it permanently," said Niranjanananda.

"Just practice these, inculcate the habit of smiling and try to stay happy. There will be a balance in your life, which is the message of yoga," he added. Pratyaya Amrit said the motivational lecture series was started in December 2015 and the choice of selecting Swami Niranjanananda was simply to help employees start the year on a positive note.