“Yoga adds years to your life and life to your years”
To emphasize the necessity of yoga in this contemporary era, The United Nations mandated June 21 to be celebrated as International Yoga Day. The day is marked to raise awareness of the benefits of Yoga and its effect on our “physical, mental, and spiritual” state thus helping people around the world to lead a healthier lifestyle. This year, International Yoga Day focuses on well-being beyond the immediate impact on physical health.
The theme of 2024 “Yoga for Self and Society”, couldn’t be more fitting for our times. In 2024, as we grapple with various challenges, yoga offers a powerful tool for individual and collective well-being. For one’s self, Yoga’s combination of physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation techniques can significantly reduce stress and anxiety, promoting emotional resilience. Yoga encourages introspection and self-awareness, helping individuals connect with their inner selves and find purpose. This can lead to greater fulfillment and a more meaningful life. Yoga emphasizes ethical principles like non-violence and respect. As individuals practice these values, they can create a more compassionate and harmonious society.
Before delving deep into the benefits of Yoga, let’s have a crisp look into the origin of International Yoga Day.
Origin of International Yoga Day
The idea of marking a day as International Day of Yoga was first proposed by our Honourable Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. He emphasized Yoga as an “invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition” and a bridge of “harmony between man and nature”.
On 11 December 2014, Mr Ashok Mukherjee, India Permanent Representative to the UN presented the draft resolution in the United General Assembly. The resolution garnered huge support from 177 Member States, the highest number of co-sponsors ever for any such UNGA Resolution. Since then June 21 was proclaimed as the International Day of Yoga.
Reserve Bank of India in 2015, issued a 10 rupees commemorative coin to mark International Yoga Day. Thereafter in April 2017, United Nation Postal Administration or UNPA too issued 10 stamps on Asanas on a single sheet to mark Yoga Day. Also to mark the commemoration of the 7th International Day of Yoga in 2021, the Department of Posts or India Post decided to launch a ‘Special Cancellation’ stamp to capture the essence of World Yoga Day. Besides this, June 21 is also the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and is called the Summer Solstice.
Some Yoga Institutes
Yoga is becoming popular in the world today, with many nations practicing it. It is widely practiced for health and relaxation. There are institutes that will teach you various yoga asanas. Some of them are listed below.
- Parmarth Niketan Ashram – Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
- Isha Yoga Center- Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Ananda in the Himalayas – Garhwal, Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand
- Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute – Gokulam, Mysore
- The Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore
- Bihar School of Yoga, Munger
Significance of Yoga in this Stressful Lifestyle
The lifestyle that we are living in is so stressful and competitive that if we fall short on any front the loss occurred is enormous. With so many responsibilities, long working hours and busy schedules, we forget what happiness is all about. To maintain a balance between our personnel and professional front we must have a healthy and mental wellness balance. As said “Health is not everything, but without health everything is nothing”. So here comes why making yoga a part of our daily life is essential.
- Yoga promotes self-healing besides increasing self-awareness
- Boost immunity and removes toxins from the body
- Increased concentration and focus
- Reduces stress level and tension in the body
- Increases muscle strength and flexibility
- Lowers blood pressure and risk of heart diseases
- Improves brain function and lung capacity
- Yoga can help reduce anxiety
- Practising yoga could help in decreasing symptoms of depression
- Practising yoga can help reduce many types of chronic pain that affects millions of people globally
Well, the benefits of including yoga in our daily lifestyle are immense and a single article is not enough to represent all its benefits. So on this International Day of Yoga make a resolution to yourself that Yoga will be a part of your daily routine.
Besides this June 21 is also World Hydrography Day. This day highlights the importance of hydrography which is the science of surveying and charting water bodies. The theme for 2024 is “Hydrographic Information – Enhancing Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability in Marine Activities”. INS Sandhayak, the Indian Navy’s oldest Hydrographic Survey Vessel got decommissioned on 04 June 2021 after serving the nation for 40 glorious years.
June 21 is also celebrated as World Music Day. Also known as Fête de la Musique in France, where its birth took place in 1982. Since then it has been celebrated globally to promote young and amateur musicians to perform and show their talent. Concerts are held for all budding musicians to promote their talent through music no matter which heritage or background they belong to as music lovers feel- “There is music for every mood and every soul”.
ixamBee wishes every aspirant a Happy International Yoga Day with the hope that you will beat these stressful times by healthily synchronizing all your efforts to achieve what you truly aspire for. Practice hard towards your dream by attempting free mocks for various exams like NABARD, IBPS RRB and many more. If you feel you need guidance do have a look into our various online courses like IBPS RRB Scale 2 IT, IBPS RRB Scale 2 AFO, and others. Get Free Online Test Series, GK updates in form of Beepedia, as well as latest updates for Bank PO, Bank Clerk, SSC, RBI, NABARD and Other Government Jobs.
Conclusion
As we mark Yoga Day 2024, let’s recall that yoga is more than a way to keep fit. It’s a path to find oneself, a source of health in body and mind, and a power for good in the world. Whether you’re well into it or just starting, use this day to dive into yoga’s life-changing magic. Roll out your mat, breathe in deep, and join the world in honoring this old custom. Namaste!
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