Celebrating International Day of Yoga

Since ancient times in India, yoga has been an integral part of life. At its core, yoga is the ultimate goal of human life and also the path to attain it. The Indian culture and tradition have their roots in spiritual knowledge founded on the principles of yoga.

As proposed by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, on 27th September 2014, in his address at the United Nations, 21st June has been unanimously approved and celebrated worldwide as the “International Day of Yoga.” This day venerates the importance of yoga in modern life.

The understanding and practice of yoga are essential to bringing about an all-round development of human life, not just in terms of physical health but also for mental wellbeing and spiritual growth. Yoga helps us remain in a state of peace and poise. It helps calm the mind and relieve stress. It helps reinstate balance in the key facets of our life, viz. physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. This leads to positive thoughts, thus changing our outlook towards life and how we relate to the world.

Yoga helps boost our confidence and resilience, thereby enabling us to bounce back in the face of life’s challenges. It is indeed a miracle of yoga that we can sustain our enthusiasm in and through all situations. Our increased willpower and positive mindset help us achieve lasting success.

Most people often experience fatigue after a grueling day of work. But the daily practice of yoga infuses the body with vital energy that can keep us rejuvenated for an extended period. Yoga keeps us fit and flexible, thereby relieving us of unnecessary aches and strains.

Unlike the prevalent myth, yoga is not just about physical exercises and postures. At a deeper level, it has a lot to do with the practice of meditation and inner purification. Meditation is an integral aspect of yoga. It brings mental wellbeing and leads us to attain the ultimate purpose of human life—discovering our true nature and being stabilized in it.

The essence of yoga is Self-realization. The term “Yog” means “to unite.” The practice of yoga ultimately leads us to re-unite with who-we-truly-are, to merge into Divine Oneness. The eight limbs of yoga (Ashtang Yog) are meant to be practiced to attain inner purification towards this end.

The profound and far-reaching benefits of yoga have been acknowledged worldwide. The announcement of the International Day of Yoga has a singular purpose—to rise above religious dogma and all other forms of diversity and work towards the welfare of humankind as a whole.

Let us all celebrate this day by resolving to clearly understand and consistently practice yoga and inspire others to do the same.