Image by Okan Caliskan from Pixabay
“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.”
B.K.S Iyengar
International Yoga Day is a great occasion to integrate yoga into life if you are struggling with prolonged working hours, hectic schedules, and an unhealthy lifestyle that affects your body and mind. The number of people suffering from stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues is increasing every day. This indicates that it is the need of hour to maintain our physical and mental health and Yoga is the perfect solution.
This ancient practice continues to witness an upward swing in popularity in the world as it allows us to rejuvenate and reconnect with our souls. To raise awareness about the benefits of this ancient practice, Yoga International Day is celebrated with utmost gusto on June 21 globally as it is no less than one of the biggest boons for humankind.
‘Yoga unites the world and brings harmony between mind and body, Man and Nature’.
International Yoga Day
On the occasion of International Yoga Day, various spiritual and meditation organizations perform mass yoga day events wherein a significant number of people come together to perform yoga. Worldwide spiritual yoga centres organize yoga day events to cater to a diverse group of people at various places including offices, MNCs, temples, schools, colleges, corporates, and even prisons.
Origin of International Yoga Day
June 21 was introduced as International Yoga Day by, Asoke Kumar Mukerji, India’s Ambassador but the idea of this yoga day was first proposed by PM Narendra Modi on September 27, 2014, during his speech at the UN General Assembly as it is the day of Summer Solstice.
‘Left and right and all around
Inhale deeply and exhale slowly,
Listen to the inner voice,
Reconnect body with soul
And start practicing yoga; the poetry of the body.’
History and Origin of Yoga
Derived from the Sanskrit word “Yuja” meaning “Union”, the practice of yoga dates back to the ‘Sat Yuga’ also known as the Golden age due to the prevalent long-lasting peace and abundant prosperity. Yoga was first mentioned in the Rigveda and then in the Katha Upanishad as per modern understanding. It is no wonder why India dominates in the realms of spirituality, peace, and tranquillity owing to ancient wellness practices like Yoga and worldwide people come to India to explore the nuances of various holistic practices inclusive of Yoga.
The traditional form of Yoga focuses on meditation and detachment from worldly pleasure. In the western world, however, the term yoga refers to a modern form of Hatha yoga and a posture-based form of the technique for relaxation, stress-reduction, and fitness, primarily using asanas. The Yoga Sutras by Patanjali are widely recognized as the most wide-ranging texts on Yoga from the ancient period.
Types of Yoga to perform on International Yoga Day
Several kinds of yoga are there combining mindfulness, movement, and meditation in various forms. There is something for everyone, whether looking for relaxing meditative classes focusing on breathing techniques or one that involves moderate to intense physical movement. Here are a few types of Yoga to choose from:
- Kundalini Yoga: This kind of yoga focuses on gentle postures along with sounds and breath in the form of songs and chants.
- Vinasya Yoga: One of the most common styles of yoga, Vinasya Yoga can be performed by beginners as well as seasoned practitioners practising yoga for years.
- Hatha Yoga: This type of yoga includes a mix of asana, pranayama, and meditation. This is performed by those looking for balanced practice or those who prefer practising gentle yoga.
- Ashtanga Yoga: Comprising 6 series of specific asanas along with the harmonized breath work, Ashtanga yoga is a physically demanding practice that helps in improving the body’s endurance and flexibility.
- Iyengar Yoga: Focused on alignment and precession of the postures, Iyengar Yoga is performed using elements like blankets, yoga blocks, cushions, and more to achieve the perfect posture.
- Bikram Yoga: Performed in a heated room with a humid room with a temperature of 105° F, Bikram yoga consists of a 26 posture series along with 2 breathing exercises.
Besides this, there are several other kinds of yoga as well like Aerial yoga, Yin yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Power yoga, Restorative yoga, Acro yoga, Prenatal yoga, and beyond.
Benefits
Apart from offering calmness and peace of mind, Yoga offers plenty of other health benefits as well:-
- It helps improve immunity.
- It helps improve the flexibility, balance, and strength of your body.
- It helps decrease back pain
- Practising yoga regularly improves your heart health.
- It helps to stimulate brain functions.
- It helps reduce depression, stress and anxiety.
- It refreshes mood by triggering positive and feel-good hormones.
- Practising yoga before bedtime relaxes your mind and hence promotes sound sleep.
- It improves the quality of life of people suffering from illness.
- It helps in weight loss by increasing metabolism in our bodies.
- It helps discover the sense of oneness with the world and nature.
Yoga is an art through which complex and even life-threatening diseases can be controlled.
People of all age groups irrespective of their nationalities and social backgrounds can practise different kinds of yoga practices. Especially, during the pandemic, many people turned to yoga to boost emotional and mental well-being.
“When you inhale, you are taking the strength from God. When you exhale, it represents the service you are giving to the world”.
Thinks to keep in mind for practising Yoga on International Yoga Day
As a beginner, a few things need to be kept in mind before practising yoga.
- Wear breathable clothes that are comfortable to experience unrestricted body movement.
- It is recommended to perform yoga on empty stomach. There should a gap of at least 2 to 4 hours between the workout session and the last meal.
- Listen to your body and avoid forcing yourself to master yoga poses overnight. Remember, mastering yoga is a gradual process.
- Avoid drinking water while practising yoga.
- Research about different types of yogas to optimize the yoga benefits.
“Yoga is a light, which once lit never dim. The better you practice, the brighter your flame.”
Honourable Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi will lead the yoga demonstration event of the 8th International Day of Yoga on 21 June in Mysuru, Karnataka. Interestingly, IDY is more special this year due to falling on the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” year.
The Ministry of Ayush is focused on the global-scale branding of India and hence planned to celebrate IDY at 75 prime locations across the entire country. Shri Sarbanand commented that besides the main event at Mysuru, the Guardian Ring will be another prime attraction on 21st June. This relay Yoga streaming event will capture together the entire digital feed related to IDY programmes that will be organised by Indian Missions abroad.
Governor of Karnataka, Union ministers, film stars, sportspersons, celebrities, revered Yoga gurus, eminent dignitaries, local Yoga institutions and experts of Yoga and allied science, are expected to be present on this special occasion along with thousands of ardent Yoga enthusiasts.
‘The soul is one’s best friend.
Treat it with care,
Nurture it with growth,
Feed it with love’.
Yoga transforms not merely transforms the spirit but also makes an individual a better person in thoughts, actions, knowledge and devotion. On this International day of yoga, let’s commit to taking a step toward a healthy lifestyle by practising Yoga to reconnect with our inner self, to promote a healthy lifestyle, positive environment and peaceful nation. However, one should refrain from forcing oneself into extreme yoga workouts or any other kind of workouts. The foundation of the commitment to lead a healthy life should be based on body positivity because you can only improve what you accept.
“We are not only celebrating international yoga day, but we are also training the human mind to begin a new era of peace, Sadbhavana”.
Yoga is indeed health assurance in literally zero budget so are you ready to join together for a good cause?
Share in the comments what are your plans for this International Yoga Day.
