Monday 15 June 2015

International Yoga Day

Introduction

It is a day of reckoning for the Indian-origin breath exercise Yoga. After a careful deliberation, the Indian government could convince the international body United Nation to celebrate the beautiful yogic exercise to establish a state of sound health in people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, the state of sound health can be achieved only when there is a constructive balance between body and mind. The premises of yoga begin from there. Through a series of breathing and physical exercise, it brings a harmony between the mind and the body.  It does not matter whether a yogi is from a different faith or not. What matters is how these exercises are done by that person.

international yoga day

Growing Popularity

Ever since the beginning of 1980s, people from India have taken the principles of yoga to different countries and demonstrated to people living there. Over a period of 30+ years, there has been a steady growth in the number of people who practice yoga at home and workplace. Many masters of this primordial exercise have customized the principles of yoga to meet the requirements of people in different countries. While transforming the basic tenets of yoga exercise to meet the needs of the customers, these masters have kept the cultural sensitivities in mind. These masters have been hugely responsible for the growing popularity of this exercise that aims to restore the healthy balance between body and mind. Other countries of the world have slowly begun to acknowledge the positive effects of body-mind exercise.  Even the most conservative countries from the Gulf region have begun to embrace the body-mind exercise to reap its health benefits. This is especially true of countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia.

yoga exercise

Designation of International Yoga Day

Immediately after coming to power, the Indian government under the leadership of Narendra Modi took steps to elicit the views of other countries about Yoga. Over a period of 3 months, the government took the feedback about the popularity of this ancient exercise. Armed with the huge volume of data, Narendra Modi addressed the United Nations General Assembly and requested the world countries to support the Indian government’s initiative to spread the message of yoga as an exercise to more countries. He told that the 6000+ year old Indian body-mind exercise can be used as a holistic medicine in a stricter sense. He showed the member countries the statistics of the positive change this exercise brings in the lives of people after adopting it. The member countries hurdled over it and gave their nod for designating a day for Yoga internationally. Henceforth, the world body ratified an agreement to designate June 21 as the International Yoga Day in December 2014.

origin yoga day

First International Yoga Day

On June 21, 2015, India would join the growing number of world countries to take an oath to further the cause of yoga for establishing a world order where health issues get plummeted.  On that day, the Government of India would unravel a website dedicated to the cause of yoga. It would be maintained by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. On this day, various yoga instructors world over would conduct classes, seminars and practical sessions for the benefit of general public. This would be done free of cost so that people get a glimpse of what the yoga is.  In India, there would be a large yoga exercise planned to such a grand scale that people from all walks of life can drop in and participate in it. The followers of Ram Dev are planning a big even with the aim of making into the record books for conducting biggest yoga events. Other spiritual gurus are also planning to do the same in our country.


first yoga day