Ashgabat, July 11 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a traditional medicine and yoga centre here in the Turkmenistan capital.

Modi, who also unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre, praised the local students for a demonstration of yoga they presented.

"I give you 100 on 100 marks for the yoga demonstration. Yoga teaches people to be one with nature. Its aim is not just physical exercise, it also touches the mind and soul," he said.

Modi referred to his meeting with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov earlier in the day, and said the president had said this was a small beginning towards his vision of a world class yoga centre, which would demonstrate the effects of yoga to the people.

Modi hoped the yoga centre and the Mahatma Gandhi bust would spread a positive message across Central Asia.

Earlier, Modi laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Turkmenistan's first president Saparmurat Niyazov.

"Honouring the memory of a leader. PM @narendramodi lays a wreath at Mausoleum of First President Saparmurat Niyazov," tweeted external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

Modi arrived in Ashgabat on Friday evening on a two-day visit. Turkmenistan is the fourth stop of his Central Asian tour.